When will Highway 1 reopen in Big Sur? Caltrans projects fall 2024 for passage through all slides.

One scenic stretch of highway through Big Sur, four current blockage points. 

Caltrans officials released an updated reopening timeline on Friday, April 12 for those four incidents. The most recent event—a March 30 slip-out in the southbound lane just south of Rocky Creek Bridge—is second on the list for reopening, with a target date of Memorial Day, May 27. 

That's much sooner than Caltrans expects repairs to be complete, a project that could be $25 million, but the timeline by which they hope to install a traffic signal, allowing vehicles to move through the impacted area 24/7. Currently, convoys with local traffic and essential workers only are allowed limited access twice daily (at 7am and 5pm) with CHP supervision. 

“We know how important Highway 1 is to the regional economy, especially during the summer, so we are working to reopen the roadway as quickly and safely as possible while at the same time making it more resilient to future extreme weather events,” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares said in a statement.

Since the March 30 slip-out, Caltrans has conducted geotechnical assessments, widened and improved drainage in the northbound shoulder area, placed concrete barriers along the centerline to channelize convoy passage, and hired a contractor to drill, install, and grout vertical rock dowels through the southbound lane pavement adjacent to the existing west edge of the roadway.

Caltrans awarded a $1 million emergency contract to Teichert Construction for the first phase of stabilization work at Rocky Creek. 

On the South Coast of Big Sur, three projects are underway to restore vehicle access at three slides. The northernmost slide—at Dolan Point—is now expected to open in mid-May, the first of the four closed areas Caltrans expects to clear.

Next week, crews are scheduled to blast large rocks on the slope above the roadway which were exposed when debris material was removed. The reopening will follow installation of a cable net drapery system over the face of the slope above the roadway.

Next up in the schedule is Rocky Creek. Then Paul's Slide—the southernmost closure point, which has been closed since January of 2023—is expected to open this summer. (That's pushed back from an earlier estimate of this spring.) There, crews are currently making cuts in the slope to prepare for final alignment of the roadway, Caltrans reports. Survey and design of the final alignment, installation of new drainage systems and preparation for road reconstruction will also begin in the coming weeks. 

The final slide expected to be cleared to reopen is Regent's Slide, which Caltrans estimates will open this fall. Officials expect 100 working days, and hope to get to work within three weeks, pending final environmental regulatory approvals. 

Papich Construction is the contractor working on the three South Coast slides, with a $60 million project at Paul's Slide, a $31 million contract at Regent's and  $1.8 million at Dolan Point.

Daily convoys continue through Paul’s Slide and a midday convoy has been added.

In order to allow for students north of Paul’s Slide to attend a full school day, a new convoy schedule will be in effect starting Monday April 15, with convoys at 7:45am, 1pm and 4:15pm.

(Convoys are canceled for Saturday, April 13, due to rain in the forecast, and are expected to resume on Sunday, April 14.)

Caltrans notes that the convoy schedule on the South Coast could change and be reduced again to accommodate additional construction vehicle traffic in the coming weeks.