Highway 1 Big Sur to Reopen by April 30

COMMUNITY NEWS Highway 1 Big Sur to Reopen by April 30

On April 8, Caltrans announced it will reopen Highway 1 at Rat Creek in Monterey County by April 30 – nearly two months ahead of its target date – ending a full closure that followed the Jan. 28 mudslide that washed out 150 feet of the roadway.

The work is estimated to cost $11.5 million.

Caltrans estimated a reopening in early summer when it began major emergency repairs March 1 and has been able to accelerate that timeline with favorable weather conditions. Crews can complete remaining construction work after the road reopens.

“Reopening Highway 1 at Rat Creek just three months after a washout of this magnitude is great news for residents,

The famous Highway 1 roadway along Big Sur was washed out in a Jan. 28 mudslide. recreationalists, business owners, and those who move goods through this region,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Caltrans has been focused on the emergency work needed to increase the resiliency of this highway section to extreme weather, and the fixes made will allow for safe travel.”

Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins added, “Our crews have worked to create a safe road in challenging conditions, and we are excited to reopen this lifeline earlier than expected.”

Caltrans estimated 70,000 cubic yards of trees, rocks, and sediment were taken off site and projected that 25,000 cubic yards of fill would be needed to be brought in to build up the support for the new roadway.

After Caltrans identified the “enhanced fill design” repair strategy in late February, crews worked seven days a week during daylight hours to fill the canyon with compacted dirt to the road level. Caltrans will establish the base of a new road during the next two weeks, to be followed by paving and striping.

Caltrans will continue construction Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin (left) speaks with District 5 Construction Chief Tim Campbell as they ascend the north side of the canyon at Rat Creek on March 5. work that will require intermittent traffic control at Rat Creek following the re-opening as crews will install a new, redundant drainage system. A new 10-foot diameter culvert is expected to improve water flow during storms and make the roadway more resilient to extreme weather. Caltrans will also work on landscaping and installing permanent guardrails throughout the early summer. n

Photos Courtesy of Caltrans

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