BIG SUR >> Continuing its emergency repair work at the Rocky Creek slip out site, Caltrans is planning a 24-hour closure of Highway 1 to achieve another construction milestone for the northbound lane viaduct structure.

Conducting another full closure of Highway 1 beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and reopening at 10 p.m. Saturday, Caltrans plans to use two heavy cranes at either end of the project area for girder installation. No vehicle or pedestrian travel of any kind will be possible on Highway 1 through the Rocky Creek area for the duration of the closure.Caltrans’ ongoing emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge — post mile 60 — is where a slip out occurred on March 20, 2024, resulting in a loss of a section of the southbound lane. Traffic flow to Big Sur was disrupted 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.

Scheduling for this week’s full 24-hour closure is weather dependent and updates will be provided to confirm or announce any changes to this schedule. Caltrans said that should weather force the rescheduling of the girder installation, the first alternative date for this work would be Saturday, 10 p.m. — Sunday, 10 p.m.

Caltrans says it hopes to achieve a major construction milestone during this 24-hour closure with the installation of six pre-cast concrete girders which will advance completion of the northbound viaduct structure. Crews previously installed nine girders for the now completed southbound viaduct structure in mid-December of last year.

The southbound lane of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek was reopened to travel on March 8, after completion of the southbound viaduct structure.

The emergency repairs to the southbound lane of Highway 1 at the site included the construction of a viaduct to support the roadway.

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 involved support from the two ends as well as two support columns in the middle, which made for a three-span design.

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

Caltrans has been periodically conducting additional overnight closures of Highway 1 as it furthers its efforts to repair the seawall structure at the base of the cliff where the slip out occurred.

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.

Rocky Creek Bridge is located 12 miles south of Carmel and more than 100 miles of Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast remain open and accessible.

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.

Travelers to the Big Sur coast from southern California will also encounter the closure of the coast highway at Regent’s Slide. The vast majority of the Big Sur coast remains accessible and open with about 6 miles of closure between the north and south ends of Highway 1 to accommodate work on Regent’s Slide.

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.