BIG SUR – With the total opening of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria expected in late fall, Caltrans continues to make progress at three repair sites in Monterey County along the Big Sur coast.
Although a 17-kilometer stretch of road is closed within the repair zone, where work is being carried out seven days per week, the remainder of Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast is fully open to the general public. Caltrans advises travelers to benefit from all that Big Sur has to supply: Those coming from the north can drive so far as Lime Creek, just past the Esalen Institute, and people coming from the south can drive so far as Limekiln State Park.
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Although repairs to the northernmost Dolan Point Slide – past mile 29.5 – are expected to be accomplished by early summer, it can not lead to an adjustment to the turnaround point at Lime Creek. Caltrans said material from the landslide triggered on March 8 has been faraway from top to bottom and blasting crews have removed the rocks. Double-twisted cable mesh has also been installed along the slope side. Crews are working to attach the seams of dozens of 150-foot meshes that were brought into place by helicopter. The mesh will add an extra layer of protection to the highway below the slope.
Regent's Slide — starting at mile 27.8 — was activated on March 9, in line with Caltrans, and employees began removing landslide material from above on April 30. Due to difficult conditions related to the acute slope of the terrain, it’s the last landslide to be accomplished. Repairs are expected to be accomplished by late fall, opening Highway 1 to direct traffic between Carmel and Cambria.
According to Caltrans, the repair work is complex and can eventually include removal of rock material by blasting crews. Due to the continued activity, steep slope and unstable material on the roadway, there isn’t any bicycle or pedestrian access on Highway 1 through Regent's Slide.
The southernmost Paul's Slide — from mile 22 — can also be the oldest of the three landslides. It was activated on January 14, 2023, and is scheduled to be accomplished by late summer, in line with Caltrans. Crews have begun installing 4 large culverts at the positioning, accomplished final surveys for the brand new roadway, and begun installing base material within the northern section of the repair. Crews proceed to watch and address landslide activity above the repairs. Once the repairs are complete, the present turnaround point at Limekiln State Park shall be moved north, providing direct access to the Camaldoli Hermitage and the community of Lucia.
Road information and updates will also be found on Caltrans District 5's social media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5), and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
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