Highway 1 closure on Big Sur coast reopens Sunday
– Owing to favorable site conditions and recent construction progress, Caltrans will reopen Highway 1 at Paul’s Slide on Sunday, June 23. The completion of major construction activities will open direct access to the community of Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, and residents living within the newly reopened 4.3 miles of highway.
Direct access on Highway 1 through Paul’s Slide has not been possible since a major slide on Jan. 14, 2023, displaced an estimated 500,000 cubic yards of material across the roadway.
“The challenge at Paul’s Slide has always been to repair Highway 1 while movement continues within the slide location,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “The completion of repairs and the reopening of a 4.3-mile section of this scenic byway will begin to restore some normalcy for business owners and residents in the area. We thank the local community for their patience and support. We also want to express appreciation for the persistence, ingenuity, and resolve demonstrated by Caltrans personnel and contracted crews throughout this process.”
With the reopening of Paul’s Slide, a 6.8-mile segment of Highway 1 will continue to remain closed due to ongoing repairs at Regent’s Slide at Post Mile (PM) 27.8. Caltrans estimates it will complete repairs at Regent’s Slide in late fall, which will open Highway 1 to direct travel along the entire run of the Big Sur coast between Cambria and Carmel.
With the reopening of Paul’s Slide, the southern turnaround point on Highway 1, currently in place at Limekiln State Park at PM 21, will move north to PM 25.3, just south of the Vicente Creek Bridge. The turnaround location offers travelers both a clear line of sight on approach and ample space for large vehicles to maneuver in and turn around.
The northern turnaround point on Highway 1 will remain at Lime Creek at PM 32.1, just south of the Esalen Institute and will remain there until Caltrans completes repairs at Regent’s Slide.
After the reopening at Paul’s Slide, crews will be on-site over the next several weeks to remove additional slide material, complete drainage installation, and implement erosion control measures. Travelers will encounter intermittent traffic control with only minimal delays during this work.
The contractor for repairs at Paul’s Slide is Papich Construction of Arroyo Grande. The total cost of this project is approximately $60 million.
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
