Caltrans release Mud Creek slide plan

Caltrans has released plans detailing its first strategy to expedite the rebuilding and long awaited reopening of Highway 1 at Mud Creek.

Department officials said a new roadway will travel over the site of the massive Mud Creek slide. The new roadway will be realigned and equipped with a series of embankments, berms, rocks, netting, culverts and other stabilizing material.

“Our staff has been working hard to tackle the weather-related challenges faced by Highway 1,” said Malcolm Dougherty. “We have made tremendous progress on Pfeiffer Canyon, have opened Paul’s Slide and now we have good news, on the slide at Mud Creek. Our goal is to reconnect the areas impacted by the winter storms as quickly and safely as possible.”

Caltrans said the strategy will allow them to rebuild the roadway faster and at a lower cost than alternatives like building a tunnel.

“This plan is a win-win for the hard-hit Big Sur community and this pristine coastal environment,” added Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. “Our emergency contractor continues working dawn to dusk every day and will continue until we can safely reopen the highway.”

Caltrans officials said its sent the initial rebuilding plan to various state, local and federal resource agencies last week and will continue to work closely with them and the Big Sur community until the highway is reopened.

The landslide happened on May 20, and dumped more than 5 million cubic yards of material onto the road and into the ocean. The slide marks the largest slide ever to occur along the Big Sur coast.

Caltrans expects to have a timeline for reopening and anticipated cost details by the end of August.