Caltrans is reducing speed limits on Highway 1 in Big Sur.

Once the signs are replaced, which is expected to happen in the next 30 days, speed limits are going down on parts of Highway 1 in Big Sur. 

In a statement sent out this morning, March 7, Caltrans announced that based on a recent study the agency conducted, it was found that lower speed limits would be "appropriate to facilitate the safe and orderly movement of traffic."

Here are the details, per Caltrans: 

· For the 14-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 0.0 and Post Mile 14 (from county line to just north of the Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 45-mph.

· For the 22.5-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 14 and Post Mile 36.5 (from just north of Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area to just north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 50-mph.

· For the 8-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 36.5 and Post Mile 44.5 (from north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to just south of Coast Ridge Road), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 40-mph.

One common factor with all these stretches, per the Caltrans statement, is they all have "limited shoulder width, a high density of bicyclists and the presence of pedestrians."

Enforcement of the new limits will begin once the signs are up.