Highway 1 reopens in Big Sur

Dozens of unsuspecting drivers were surprised to see Highway 1 shut down Friday morning after rock slides forced California Highway Patrol to close the road Thursday night.

“We’ve been here since 11’o clock last night on the side of the road, but we’ve been in the RV so we have all the comforts of home,” said Gianna Holle, a Santa Cruz resident.

CHP made the call to close a portion of the road Thursday night around 8 p.m. after at least three rock slides sent more than 50 tons of rocks and sand into the road.

On Friday morning the highway was closed from near the Coast Gallery to Ragged Point.

One slide sent some fairly large rocks down onto the road, but Caltrans spokesperson Heath Johnston said he has seen much bigger.

“It’s not the biggest we’ve ever seen, it’s something we can clean up, clear and get the road open in about a day,” said Johnston.

Before the road reopened, on Friday at about 1 p.m., drivers heading south were given two options: head back to 101 or wait it out.

“Probably, I’ll turn around and find another way,” said Li Ou, a tourist visiting from Texas.

The Soberanes Fire wreaked havoc on the area over the summer, leaving behind a dry and unstable burn scar, but Johnson said the rock slides likely had nothing to do with the fire.

“Mainly just the amount of rain we got and the winds is what caused it,” said Johnston.

Big Sur businesses we talked to said the closure did not affect them too much because it’s still the slow season.

Rick Aldinger with Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant calls the slide part of a normal winter for the area.

“This is back to normal winter conditions,” said Aldinger. “This is what we expect to happen this time of
year and it’s not a reason to stay away.”