Temporary bridge removed on Palo Colorado ahead of storm
“We have our mud boots in the back, and we wear those to and from the car,” said Andrea Wilkosz, who lives above Palo Colorado Road and Rocky Creek.
Every day for the past two weeks, Wilkosz and her son have had to hike a mile or more just to get home.
Recent storms destroyed several roads in Big Sur, including the one leading to her house.
“The driveway where everything went wrong, the culvert, that is my driveway,” Wilkosz said.
Some of Wilkosz’s hikes are tougher than others.
“Groceries, and a heavy backpack full of nursing books,” Wilkosz said.
A nursing student, Wilkosz said school is stressful enough, and now she has to worry about how to get there.
“When you have to be at the hospital at 6 o’clock in the morning, I have to calculate now my hike to my car,” Wikosz said.
On Monday, Monterey County Public works crew had to take out a temporary bridge on Palo Colorado Road, connecting the parts that were split in half in previous storms, extending Wilkosz’s commute. Officials said they need to take precaution in case Rocky Creek overflows and causes damage overnight.
“If it gets damaged at night and nobody is here, somebody may come and drive over and that wouldn’t be good,” said public works official Juan Mesa.
Officials said they will put the bridge back as soon as possible, especially for emergency crews.
“The fire chief has a vehicle on each side, so yes, that’s a main concern and that’s the push to put it back,” Mesa said.
While Wikosz and dozens of other residents hope for some sort of normal soon.
“It’s a mess,” Wikosz said. “I know that the county is doing the best that they can but I just hope it can get fixed sooner than later.”
Public works official said they will monitor the weather closely and depending on the condition of the creek, the bridge may not be back up until Friday.
