Big Sur Bridge Damaged and Shut Down

[VegasBella]

"Cracks in a support column under the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur continue to grow, causing an indefinite closure of the road."

"Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is also currently closed, leaving many Big Sur residents without any paved to access the Monterey Peninsula or the Salinas Valley. "

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com...cle_59c5aaac-f466-11e6-ae4f-0741bcadb46c.html

I am guessing this won't be fixed quickly so if you were planning a coastal drive along highway 1 this Summer, you might want to change your route. This closure blocks off a pretty large chunk of highway 1, and IMO the most beautiful chunk.

 

[presley]

Bummer. Going to stay in Pacific Grove this summer and planned on driving all over the outlying areas. I'm sure I'll still have many options, but that drive was something I was looking forward to.

 

[wilma]

Bummer. Going to stay in Pacific Grove this summer and planned on driving all over the outlying areas. I'm sure I'll still have many options, but that drive was something I was looking forward to.

The damaged bridge may be fixed by the summer, don't give up.

 

[Blues]

Sorry, it looks like it will take 9 to 12 months. From today's (March 10, 2017) Carmel Pine Cone:

"Caltrans officials say it could be nine months to a year before a replacement is built for the doomed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge -- which means it will also be that long before Highway 1 is accessible for people who want to drive all the way through.

But Kirk Gafill, general manager of Nepenthe restaurant, is warning that the local tourism industry would take a massive hit from such a delay, and that the impact would be felt statewide. Gafill says he's holding out hope that a temporary one-lane bridge can be installed in the near future so tourists can again travel freely up and down the coast.

Meanwhile, the failing bridge will be demolished early next week. Cracks were discovered in it Feb. 12, and it's been slowly falling apart ever since. Located just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the bridge crosses a tributary of the Big Sur River.

While Gafill and others are calling for the installation of a temporary bridge, Caltrans spokesperson Susana Cruz said she doesn't believe it's possible -- and will only delay the completion of a permanent bridge.

'How would we work on the bridge and leave room for a lane?' she asked. 'It's nothing we're entertaining -- it's not a feasible fix.'"

 

[Ty1on]

The tourism industry along Big Sur would take a hit that would be felt statewide? If you've ever driven it, you're laughing at that like I am. No doubt it's hurting his business and the other scattered restaurants and inns along the way, and badly so, but the sum of those businesses isn't a molecule in the ocean of California tourism.

 

[Blues]

A bit hyperbolic, I'm sure. But I'd guess that driving the Big Sur coast falls in the top 5 reasons for tourists to visit California, along with Yosemite, Disneyland, San Francisco, and San Diego. Just a guess, and my own opinion.

 

[Blues]

Bummer. Going to stay in Pacific Grove this summer and planned on driving all over the outlying areas. I'm sure I'll still have many options, but that drive was something I was looking forward to.

Within the next few weeks, the other slides should be removed. You should be able to drive to the village of Big Sur, including the River Inn, the general store, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, etc. And for the adventurous, they are about to open a walking trail from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to the other side of the Pfeiffer Canyon bridge. I wouldn't be surprised to see public transportation from that point to points south in Big Sur.

It's not quite the same as driving the entire Big Sur coast, but it will be fun.

 

[WalnutBaron]

Latest update on this one: KCRA Sacramento (NBC affiliate) reports that the bridge will be under repair for an estimated six months, which puts the timing into early fall season.

 

[Blues]

Latest update on this one: KCRA Sacramento (NBC affiliate) reports that the bridge will be under repair for an estimated six months, which puts the timing into early fall season.

Yes, KCRA in Sacto and KSBW in Monterey are closely affiliated, and report each others' stories frequently. What the KSBW story said was that, if all goes well, Caltrans hopes that they can finish the bridge in 6 months. That's a very positive development; but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

 

[Blues]

BTW, Highway 1 is open from Monterey to the village of Big Sur, so you can now spend the day down at the River Inn and surroundings. The southern half of Highway 1 is still closed from Ragged Point north, so you still can't approach from that direction; though I'd expect that to open within weeks. Also, Nacimiento Rd is also now open. That will get you from US101 to the Kirk Creek area of the Big Sur coast. Nacimiento Rd is twisty and a bit scary for some; but I've driven it many times and it's not that bad, as long as you go in daylight hours when the weather is clear.