BIG SUR >> Caltrans will conduct a full overnight closure of Highway 1 on Sunday at the slip out repair site near Rocky Creek Bridge as it continues its reconstruction work there.

The closure, from 10 p.m. Sunday-6 a.m. Monday, will provide Caltrans an opportunity to deploy a crane and use it to lower equipment and materials down to the shore below as part of the reconstruction of the seawall. The seawall protects the southern end of Rocky Creek Bridge, and the slope below the recently constructed viaduct, from wave action damage.

This overnight closure will not have any effect on the logistical operations of the Big Sur Marathon and has been coordinated with the sponsors of the race, according to Caltrans. As previously announced, the race course will close Highway 1 to all vehicle travel on Sunday, between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m., from near the start of the race at Big Sur Station to just past the finish line at Rio Road in Carmel. https://www.bigsurmarathon.org/traffic-information/

Caltrans continues emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge — post mile 60 — where the slip out that occurred on March 20, 2024, resulted in a loss of a section of the southbound lane disrupting the flow of traffic to Big Sur for a time before measures where taken to restore vehicle passage using only the northbound lane. Caltrans established one-way, 24-7, signalized traffic control to allow for travelers to access activities and businesses in Big Sur.

During the overnight closure of Highway 1 on Sunday, the crane used to lower equipment and materials will span both lanes of travel. A second full overnight closure is scheduled for this section of Highway 1 on May 4, beginning at 10 p.m. and finishing on May 5 at 6 a.m.

The emergency repairs to Highway 1 include the construction of a viaduct to support the roadway and repairs to a concrete seawall at the base of the cliff.

Crews drilled and cast reinforced concrete columns to support the weight of the viaduct structure in advance of the installation of girders. The design of the viaduct involves support from the two ends as well as two support columns in the middle, which make for a three-span design.

Three girders were placed across three spans, totaling nine concrete girders, ranging from 45 to 65 feet in length, that were installed in mid-December.

The contractor for the emergency repairs near the Rocky Creek Bridge is Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek. The estimated price tag for the repair work at the Rocky Creek slip out is $21 million.

The estimate for completion of the Rocky Creek viaduct is this summer and is dependent on conditions encountered during construction.

Though Highway 1 to Big Sur is open, the coastal highway remains closed 40 miles south of Carmel due to the Regent’s Slide — post mile 27.8 — which occurred March 9, 2024, and where top-down removal of slide material by crews began on April 30, 2024.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.