Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge demolition underway, businesses and families struggle

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:””;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:107%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The demolition of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge in Big Sur finally got underway early Wednesday evening more than a month after it was damaged by winter storms.

The closure has been a challenge for Captain Cooper Elementary School student Jose Mario. His school is on one side of the bridge while his home and his dad are stuck on the other.

“My dad is over there on the other side of the bridge and me and my mom are staying here because I have to go to school.”

Jose’s been staying at the Ripplewood Resort where his mom works. There, manager Sean Shadwell said the closure of bridge hasn’t been easy.

“It’s been pretty devastating,” said Shadwell. “We stayed open as much as possible to support locals, but our overall business has just tanked.”

The demolition was put on hold for the first time on Monday when the bridge proved to be too strong for a wrecking ball. On Wednesday, crews were out working with a bridge technician and had better luck.

“We are hoping that he (the technician) can help us find a path that will get us to a point where this wrecking ball can free fall with enough speed, power and velocity that we are hoping for,” said Caltrans spokesperson Jim Shivers.

There were talks about blowing up the bridge, but Caltrans said ultimately that become too risky.

“At this point we don’t think that is a safe option so we are still holding to the use of the wrecking ball,” said Shivers.

Until a replacement for the bridge is installed, Shadwell is trying to stay optimistic.

“You can’t really plan for it,” said Shadwell. “We are just sort of taking it day-by-day and seeing how things play out.” In a bit of good news, Highway 1 is open until the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.

Caltrans said it will be back out working on the bridge on Thursday if necessary.