Big Sur residents urged to evacuate area cut off by latest Hwy. 1 slide as more rain nears
People who live and work in the Big Sur area south of the latest Highway 1 collapse were urged to evacuate Wednesday with the final convoy before it starts to rain again as a new storm system approaches California.
The latest slip-out at Rocky Creek, 60 miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Monterey county line, stranded as many as 1,600 people when a chunk of the southbound lane tumbled into the ocean on Saturday.
It was the fourth such road closure damage on the Highway in recent months.
On Wednesday, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for the area south of the Rocky Creek slip-out and north of the Dolan Slide, about 30 miles from the county line.
With more rain expected to hit the coast on Thursday and Friday, Caltrans canceled the twice-daily convoys that have allowed residents in and out of the area that’s otherwise cut off by slides to the north and south. The final convoy out before the storm was at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service doesn’t expect the storm will be a heavy rainmaker, but thunderstorms in local areas could drive up the expected half-inch estimate, and any additional downpours could make the already tenuous situation worse.
Engineers determined it’s safe to lead the monitored convoys on the undamaged northbound lane of the scenic highway that’s runs on a steep slope high above the Pacific Ocean.
But that could change.
“The road is anticipated to be closed for several days until the weather event passes through the area,” the Sheriff’s Office notice said. If a resident feels unsafe, is medically fragile, or is unprepared to be isolated for several days, the notice advised, “leave immediately. Forecasted storms may cause more damage along Highway 1, and officials worry that the additional precipitation could make the ravaged areas even less stable than they already are.
“Emergency Medical Services may be unable to evacuate patients beyond the road closures,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Those experiencing an emergency medical condition may be unable to leave the area to access hospitals or other medical services. Medically fragile individuals are encouraged to gather their medications along with any needed medical equipment and evacuate the area.”
People who evacuated should know, however, that if the incoming rain causes significantly more damage at Rocky Creek, they may not be able to return at the next tentatively scheduled convoy time of 8 a.m. Saturday.
“We’re hopeful that there’ll be no change at the repair site, and we’ll be observing it continuously throughout the rain event,” Caltrans spokesman Kevin Drabinski said Wednesday afternoon.
During the 8 a.m. convoy window Wednesday, “crews counted 157 vehicles passing through in the northbound direction with 165 vehicles passing by in the southbound direction,” he said.
“This week crews added gravel to the drainage ditch off the shoulder of the northbound lane to ensure that it is able to continue to provide drainage through the site,” Drabinski said. “Crews were also able to place fabric down and pave over the gravel-filled ditch and part of the dirt shoulder of the northbound lane to gain extra room in the travel lane.
“Crews are continuing to focus on strategies to stabilize the edge of the roadway and work will continue once the rain event passes,” he said.
Updates on the status of the closure of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge will be provided as more information becomes available.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office also advised residents to “check with your neighbors to ensure they have been made aware of this alert. Monitor local media and social media. Call 911 if you have a life-threatening emergency.”
