Pacific Coast Route - section 4, map 49 road closure - April 2011

[CMajernik]

Geologic instability and debris falling on Hwy. 1 at Alder Creek (just north of the Monterey/San Luis Obispo County line) have closed the roadway completely in both directions. It will be 4-6 weeks before the road is open again. Here are several sites to refer to for updates:
http://920kvec.com/Highway-1-Near-Big-Sur-Make-Take-6-Weeks-To-Reopen/9705358
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/monterey/carmeltocambria_trafficadvisory_replace.pdf

Carla Majernik
Routes and Mapping Program

[aggie]

There is another post in this section about the closure.  Cgarch has been good about updating their progress and a possible reroute.  Go to that posting to get the some info on rerouting.

[cgarch]

Thanks. This is perhaps a better site on the slide and updates are relatively frequent. http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/

[100milesperburrito]

Do people on their bikes ever just walk their bikes across slides like this? It doesn't seem much different than walking across a mt. top? I'm leaving in 4 days down the coast from SF and the reconstruction will obviously not be done in time. I do not want to go completely out of my way....has anyone walked the line on slides like these? Isn't that what bikes are for?

100 miles per burrito.

[whittierider]

Do people on their bikes ever just walk their bikes across slides like this?

I just took a look at the .pdf linked above.  It has a picture of it that tells me there's no way you'll be able to walk it.  There's about a 40° embankment of unstable, loose, slippery soil.

[cgarch]

I dunno - do you feel lucky? The pix of them flying in dozers with Chinooks to the top of the slide suggests to me no one is walking or riding across that slide anytime soon. Sure I have spoken with someone who once talked her way across a closed area but that was a long time ago and very likely nothing like this slide. The word liability comes to mind - they're not going to let you cross and I think (IMO) it would be rather risky and foolish. YMMV.

[SteveVarnum]

A couple of us are planning on riding south on the Pacific Coast Route starting in mid-July to early-August...and then east on the Southern Tier.

How do we get updates on the reopening?  Do we come back to this post?

Thanks,
SteveVarnum

[aggie]

Thanks. This is perhaps a better site on the slide and updates are relatively frequent. http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/

  Check this site as posted by cgarch.  It should keep you updated as to progress cleaning up the slide.

[100milesperburrito]

Does CalTrans keep workers there monitoring the area 24/7 or do they work regular shifts and head home at the end of the day on a 7-4pm schedule? Are there police monitoring the closure after hours? Seems like if the slide is stable enough to put 10 ton excavation rigs on it, a person weighing in at 165lbs shouldn't be a problem. Thanx.

[whittierider]

Seems like if the slide is stable enough to put 10 ton excavation rigs on it

I don't know how this is handled, but I'm sure they don't put the rigs on the slide, but rather whittle it away from the ends while the weight of the rigs is on something solid.

[100milesperburrito]

Seems like if the slide is stable enough to put 10 ton excavation rigs on it

I don't know how this is handled, but I'm sure they don't put the rigs on the slide, but rather whittle it away from the ends while the weight of the rigs is on something solid.

I would check out the latest photos from http://thebigsurblog.com/ - pretty crazy indeed.

[cgarch]

Seems like if the slide is stable enough to put 10 ton excavation rigs on it

I don't know how this is handled, but I'm sure they don't put the rigs on the slide, but rather whittle it away from the ends while the weight of the rigs is on something solid.

They're not. They place the rigs at the top and massage the slide down the hill, placing themselves on stable soil. There's probably little to no stable soil at the bottom of the slide, where they're pushing the soils over. I think the photos make it pretty clear the area is not passable and is probably quite hazardous. If they did what they did at the Rocky Creek slide, there is law enforcement at the site for folks who are clueless about the issue.

[WeTommyD]

Passed the slide in the second week of May.  You can pass after 6:30 pm when the construction crews go home or very early morning before they start.  We threw the panniers down a 100 ft cliff and slid down on our butts with rope and bike.  Crossing was difficult with carrying bike & panniers while many of the rocks were unstable. Not real safe. I was wearing Vibram five fingers which did not help.  We then found a rope on the south side to climb up while carrying the bikes and panniers.

 At the time the slides was still active.  If any rocks come down jump in the ocean! We were told that it was a federal offense to cross the slide.  $300 ticket if caught. Not sure how much is true since there seemed to be a lot of non or misinformation approaching the slide. However, we were told that town people often cross also.  The good news, the road is pretty much all yours.  Very few cars compared to normal so the best time to bicycle but cross at your own risk!

Stayed at Limekiln campground not too far from the slide.  We rolled in to a nice hotel $99 a night, Ragged Point with nice restaurant I think maybe 15 miles from the slide because it was dark.

[JHamelman]

The news is good. Highway open should be reopened tomorrow, June 10!

http://www.ksby.com/news/caltrans-to-reopen-highway-1-south-of-big-sur-by-tomorrow/

Thanks @BicycleDudeGuy on Twitter for sharing the article.

.Jennifer.