BIG SUR >> The full overnight closure of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek is planned for Jan. 21 to allow for further construction of new roadway at the site of a slip-out that occurred last March.

The complete halt of traffic of Highway 1 at the construction zone next Tuesday will be from 10 p.m.-6 a.m., and will allow crews to pour the concrete bridge deck for the southbound lane of the Rocky Creek viaduct following the mid-December 2024 installation of nine pre-cast concrete girders for the construction of the viaduct structure.

Flaggers will begin intermittent traffic controls with delays of up to 10 minutes at 8:30 p.m., before the full closure goes into effect. But by 10 p.m., crews will have Highway 1 completely closed and will stage concrete pumps in the northbound lane to pour concrete for the bridge deck until 6 a.m. the next morning.

Caltrans is continuing with emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge — post mile 60 — where a loss of a section of the southbound lane 12 miles south of Carmel disrupted 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.

The schedule for this concrete bridge deck pour is weather dependent, says Caltrans. Updates will be provided to confirm or announce any changes to this schedule.

The Rocky Creek viaduct is estimated to be completed by summer of this year depending on conditions encountered during its construction.

The contractor for this project 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 emergency repairs to Highway 1 continue with 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 the 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.

Prior to the girder installation, other construction-related tasks over the last several months included crews drilling holes, lowering rebar cages inside and pouring concrete to create the support columns. The concrete girders will serve as the support structure for the southbound lane of the viaduct bridge deck.

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 and where top-down removal of slide material by crews began on April 30.

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.