Preparing for more rain in Big Sur, road closures possible

Big Sur is preparing for a possible shutdown of Highway One.

Caltrans is warning the heavy rain could force them to close an area prone to mudslides.

Caltrans is keeping an eye on Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. Caltrans says that the area of

The Paul slide is still slightly active and rains could cause it to slip.

They are also keeping a watchful eye on the slopes where they did the Mud Creek slide project.

“We have been saying, since before the roadway opened that it will take a couple of winters at least for the slopes to settle,” Susana Cruz, Public Information Officer for Caltrans.

Caltrans has issued a 48 hour traffic advisory for the two areas. The roads are open for now.

For Dana Carnazzo at the Big Sur Lodge, road closures can do two things.

“If the road is completely closed for days and days it’s a problem, but if they just close it down the coast overnight, we contact all of our guests and tell them to come up 101 and come down to us, so it doesn’t really matter, but if you have a week in a row that gets rid of the daily guests that come in,” said Dana Carnazzo.

Caltrans will issue road closures 23 hours in advance.