BIG SUR >> Highway 1 was reopened by mid-morning Friday after the first slide of 2025 on Monterey County’s portion of Highway 1 closed a 12-mile segment of the roadway overnight Thursday.

A small slide that covered the northbound lane on a blind curve occurred during the latest storm to hit the Central Coast on Thursday. The slide was located in Monterey County two miles north of the San Luis Obispo County line and prompted the closure of the highway between Ragged Point in northern San Luis Obispo County and Gorda in southern Monterey County.

“Crews were on site at first light to address the debris in the roadway,” said Caltrans District 5 spokesperson Kevin Drabinski.

Caltrans crews cleared debris including a five-foot diameter boulder from Highway 1 Friday morning, and then they continued north to assess the condition of the rest of the closure area before reopening the roadway. “No movement was noted at Regent’s due to this latest storm,” said Drabinski.

Highway 1 remains closed at Regent’s Slide and “we do not have an estimated reopening date at present,” said Drabinski.

Though Highway 1 to Big Sur is open allowing travelers from northern California to visit the Big Sur coast and its historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants and lodging amenities. 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 of last year.

Travelers to the Big Sur coast from southern California will also encounter the closure of the coast highway at Regent’s Slide but are still able to reach the views, lodging amenities and natural wonders along Highway 1 when they visit Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, Gorda, Ragged Point, San Simeon and Cambria. The vast majority of the Big Sur coast remains accessible and open.

Regent’s Slide originated 450 feet above the roadway displacing material that engulfed Highway 1 and continuing down to the beach and ocean below. While Caltrans has made progress toward reopening the roadway, repair efforts have been challenged by the height and steepness of the slope, which have required flexibility and frequent adjustments to repair strategies to ensure the safety of workers on site. Continued slide activity has extended its reopen date.

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.