Big Sur travelers take heed: When winter storms are on the way don’t just check with the National Weather Service, check with Caltrans too. Highway 1 just might be closed ahead of time.
After storms that battered the iconic highway in 2017, Caltrans made a decision recently to pre-emptively shut down Highway 1 at two points that experienced significant slides, Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide, whenever significant rainfall events are forecast by the weather service, officials announced in a press release on Nov. 7.
“The ongoing earthwork projects at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide have reestablished a traversable route over both landslides but continued movement of the newly formed slopes and landslide features are expected in the future,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.
“Closing the highway during significant rainfall events is necessary for the safety of the traveling public and our workers,” he said.
The traffic advisories will be issued 48 hours in advance to alert the public, so Big Sur residents and others impacted can stock up supplies in advance and make other travel plans.
Twenty four hours in advance Caltrans will send another advisory either confirming a full closure or providing additional information. The two potential closure points will be treated separately, meaning one could close and the other could remain open.
If they do close, gates will be locked shut on either side of the areas and will be staffed during the closure.
“No one, including Emergency Services or our own employees will be allowed to go through until a proper assessment can be made and any cleanup necessary can be completed,” the press release states.
Caltrans will have geologists, maintenance and construction crews on call to inspect and clean up the two areas during daytime hours after storms pass.
Last month workers performed emergency repairs to a retaining wall at Paul's Slide in record time, completing the job in just one night instead of the two they had scheduled.