UPDATE: Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur closed indefinitely.

Update as of 5:30pm Wednesday: California Highway Patrol has announced the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge is closed indefinitely after a CalTrans assessment on Wednesday afternoon showed growth in the support column fractures. 

There will be a further assessment on Feb. 21.

Update as of 2pm Wednesday: The last chance to cross the bridge either by vehicle or foot is 5:00pm Wednesday. 

Big Sur residents stuck on the southern end of damaged Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge may get a chance to move their vehicles one-at-a-time across on Wednesday—that is if Caltrans deems it safe to do so.

"This afternoon's bridge inspection showed even more movement and growth in fractures [to the bridge support column]. For the sake of the locals, vehicle/pedestrian access will be allowed through one last time from 2pm to 5pm," states a Caltrans announcement.

"This will be the last time pedestrians, vehicles and emergency services will be allowed across the bridge until further notice," it states. "The next bridge assessment will be made after the rain, on Tuesday, Feb. 21."

Update as of 9:30am Wednesday: Vehicles will be allowed to cross from 10am to 1pm, according to a Caltrans announcement.

"This morning's bridge inspection showed movement and growth in fractures, but vehicle/pedestrian access will be allowed this morning," the announcement states.

An additional bridge assessment will be conducted at noon to decide if vehicles will be allowed from 2pm to 5pm. Officials promised a new announcement at 1pm.

The bridge was closed to all vehicle traffic on Sunday, after it was discovered one of its support columns was fractured due to the shifting hillside underneath. Only pedestrians were allowed to cross.

At 9am on Wednesday the agency will assess damage to the bridge's support structure and decide if it can allow some vehicles to cross, according to a statement released by Caltrans spokesperson Susana Cruz on Tuesday afternoon.

"Expect the 'go ahead' or the 'cease operations' update at 9:30am," according to the statement.

If the bridge is deemed safe enough, vehicles up to 20 tons will be allowed to cross one at a time escorted by the California Highway Patrol during two sessions, from 10am to 1pm, and 2pm to 5pm.

"These provisions are for critical and necessary trips on this day only," the announcement states. 

Pedestrians will also be allowed to cross the bridge, but Caltrans says it is closing the bridge completely on Thursday morning, when a new storm is expected to hit the area.

Editor's note: This post is being updated with the most current information from Caltrans as it is released.