Repairs on Highway 1 at Rat Creek exciting businesses, residents

BIG SUR, Calif. (KION) Our area's most scenic highway will soon be reopening after a January mudslide washed out 150 feet of the pavement.

Caltrans says Highway 1 at Rat Creek should be open by the end of the month, which is about two months ahead of schedule. Until then, many drivers are being forced to turn around, many of them unaware of the closure.

For Big Sur residents, it's been relatively blissful.

"Pretty quiet. Folks aren't coming down that far, so it's kind of a nice time to be in Big Sur really," said Cynthia Bianchetta.

Caltrans began major emergency repairs at the beginning of March to the section of Highway 1. Good weather has allowed them to get done a lot faster.

"We have a larger diameter main culvert and we have redundant culverts as you climb up towards the elevation of the highway. We feel that that repair will be in place for generations to come," said Kevin Drabinski, a spokesperson for Caltrans.

Crews will be able to finish up the remainder of their work after the road reopens.