Big Sur landslide has blocked part of Hwy. 1 for more than a year. Take a look at the work

On the rugged Big Sur coast, thick fog settled into the curves of Highway 1, curling around a great scar carved into the hillside by a landslide last year.

There, the crisp sea breeze sliced through the dust and gasoline fumes of the construction site where Caltrans is rebuilding a half-mile stretch of the scenic highway at a spot known as Paul’s Slide.

About 22 miles north of the Monterey County line — just above Limekiln State Park — a mudslide dumped heaps of debris onto the highway in January 2023, and that portion of the road has been closed for construction ever since. It’s one of three slides in a six-mile area that has prevented travelers from enjoying the full drive up and down the coast.

To date, Caltrans and Papich Construction crews have removed about 500,000 cubic yards of debris — enough to fill 150 Olympic-sized swimming pools — as they clear the area and cut a path into the mountain for the new road.

Now, the crews are installing a new drainage system so water flows under the road instead of on top of it, according to Caltrans spokesperson Jim Shivers.

The new road will be higher than the previous one, which leaves room for Caltrans to install larger drainage culverts underneath the surface, Shivers said.

The goal is to finish construction by the end of the summer, he said.

While construction activities vary from day to day, one thing remains the same: The crews work 12-hour shifts, seven days per week.

It’s hard work, Shivers said, but it comes with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean — where workers sometimes spot migrating whales or dolphins.

“The beauty of the area still can overrun you and affect you in the midst of all this construction,” Shivers said. “The Big Sur coast is just that powerful. As busy as we all are, it’s still a joy to work here.”

Crews improve drainage, prepare to pave road

Construction crews will install at least three, 63-inch-wide pipes beneath this half-mile stretch of the highway to funnel water into the ocean, Shivers said.

Crews will also dig trenches on the side of the road to direct water into the pipes.

“It’s going to be able to handle a lot of water and make sure it goes to the right place,” Shivers said.

Before the landslide, the highway was serviced by a drainage pipe about 2 feet smaller than the new one, so it had a smaller drainage capacity, he said. The new pipe will have the capacity to drain more water and better prevent landslides, Shivers said.

On Friday, trucks rumbled up to the construction site, dumping heaps of crushed concrete and asphalt into piles near the hillside. Crews will eventually lay that base fill on the road before paving it.

Base fill is a more consistent material than clay, which expands and contacts during weather variations, so the base fill protects the road from cracking.

Big Sur businesses suffer from Highway 1 closure

As that summer reopening date approaches, businesses along the usually busy route say customers are still few and far between.

The Gorda General Store, located just a few miles south of Paul’s Slide, was hit hard by the Highway 1 closure, according to longtime employee John Maragos.

The establishment offers a restaurant, a convenience store, a gas station, hotel rooms and cabins for rent. The shelves were stocked with snacks and baked goods on Friday, but only one customer roamed the convenience store.

If it weren’t for the closure at Paul’s Slide, the store and the parking lot would be packed with people, according to Maragos.

“It’d be bumper to bumper — everyone in the world was coming here,” Maragos said.

Before the landslide, the market served about 200 customers per day. Now, they see about 20 customers per day he said.

About six construction workers rent rooms from the General Store and buy three meals a day, according to Maragos. They help keep the establishment open.

“I don’t think we’d be open if it weren’t for the workers staying here,” he said. “It’s hard on the owners. Maybe they’ll get some kind of relief.”

When asked about the importance of Highway 1 to the business, Margos said: “It means everything.”

Caltrans reopens Rocky Creek Slide area

Highway 1 remains closed at three points due to damage caused by landslides.

The Dolan Point Slide happened 30 miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Monterey County line on Feb. 8, while the Regent Slide happened Feb. 9 less than two miles south of that.

Paul’s Slide, Dolan Point and the Regent Slide areas remain closed for construction, according to Caltrans.

Dolan Point, the farthest north closure, is expected to reopen first, possibly in a matter of weeks. Paul’s Slide would be next, followed by the Regent Slide site in the fall.

If all goes according plan, the highway could be fully reopened at that time, barring any additional incidents.

Meanwhile, another slide area south of Carmel finally reopened to regular traffic on Friday.

On March 30, a slipout gashed the southbound lane of the highway south of Rocky Creek Bridge, sending a portion of the cliffside tumbling into the sea. After nearly two months of work, Caltrans re-opened a lane of the highway through the Rocky Creek area on Friday.

“This portion of Highway 1 will reopen with the use of a 24/7 signalized traffic control,” a Caltrans news release said. “This temporary signal will provide unrestricted public access with one-way alternating traffic in both the north and southbound directions.”

The repairs mean the road will be safe for motorists until Caltrans completes permanent repairs on the site next year.