Famed CA.HWY 1 Closed:(...

Polarbear

Polarbear

• Mar 18, 2011

• #1

Part of this wonderful highway has gone to SEA, just North of Big Sur and will remained closed for a good month to get a temp in place. Sad, but not so unusual for this 75 mile stretch of scenic byway. It seems we get slides a lot more, these past few years. I just rode it last weekend, camping at Gorda and riding the entire loop, so I guess I'm fortunate not to have used my GSA life raft! FYI; The highway is still accessable from points South to North but you must retrace your footsteps at the slide, about a 60 mile retrace to CambriaCA. As a tourist on a bike, I would "still" suggest doing this road this next few weeks, otherwise mid Spring should see it open again. Its a wonderful ride anytime, a National Treasure Byway...Happy Trails, Randy

 

JIMSHAW

Ambassador at Large

• Mar 18, 2011

• #2

1%

I have ridden this road just twice. I figure that's about 1% of the recommended lifetime dose.

 

rad

Retired from riding

• Mar 18, 2011

• #3

Pic lifted from BMWsportouring

 

lmo1131

New member

• Mar 19, 2011

• #4

And ya know... there's nothing quite like taking a leisurely walk up the middle of Hwy1 after a lazy lunch at Nepenthe's.... it's always so quite and peaceful when all the traffic is gone. Of course, I'm sure the local merchant's don't see it that way.

A little more information from this morning's San Luis Obispo paper; "The Tribune"

The gap may in fact get wider... we're forecast for 2 inches of rain tomorrow (Mar.20)

 

G

grafikfeat

New member

• Mar 20, 2011

• #5

Ya gotta wonder sometimes what people see in roads like the Dragon.

 

JIMSHAW

Ambassador at Large

• Mar 20, 2011

• #6

<chuckle>

GrafikFeat said:

Ya gotta wonder sometimes what people see in roads like the Dragon.

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The Coast Highway is my idea of makin' out. The Dragon is like gettin' laid.

Do only one, if that's all you can do.

 

H

Harrington

Guest

• Mar 20, 2011

• #7

That stretch of road between Cambria and Carmel Highlands is probably my favorite section of road in Northern California. Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) is probably a close second. Both have limited LEO presence and if scheduled right, limited traffic.

 

Polarbear

Polarbear

• Mar 20, 2011

• #8

We love our HWY1!

She'll be missed a tad, this early Spring. I was fortunate enough to get my loop in just the week before this slide. "The Nacimiento RD." is an alternate route, through "Hunter Liggett Military Base". A great ride from Jolon,CA off HWY101(King City,CA). Be SURE you have all your papers in ORDER, including a current insurance card on the bike!!! They ask for it all(and will CITE you for non compliance$$$$$, in CA.), going through this base. Anyhow, this road comes out mid way on the famed HWY1, near Lucia,CA. A very pretty curvy road through the coast range, on your way to HWY1...FYI. Randy

 

lmo1131

New member

• Mar 26, 2011

• #9

It's gonna be awhile.. ..

A mudslide occurred Thursday near Limekiln State Park (mile post 20.5). This is in addition to the previous slide at mile post 60.5. Everything in between is stranded, so to speak.

Here's the CalTrans Road Project Report; posted Friday, 25 March.

A handy URL to have around: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/

 

-CRASH-

New member

• Mar 26, 2011

• #10

Adventurous Riders (AKA Dual sport GSA types) can get around the slide by taking Old Coast Road ... right at the moment a muddy mess, but when the weather clears a bit, an option.

I live pretty close to this area but personally prefer heading north on 1 - once i get past SF and get over to HWY 1 it is glorious all the way to the redwood forests and beyond. Probably been on a couple of hundred rides that way and still can't wait for the next one.

And it is all opinion, but the Dragon for me way a bit boring and way too short. HWY 1 up to HWY 36 and across is a day or more of twisting winding roads with amazing scenery. You can keep going north on 1/101 cost roads to Washington and never get bored.

 

rad

Retired from riding

• Mar 26, 2011

• #11

-CRASH- said:

Dan
2004 K1200GT
"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." - Mark Twain .

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Damn, that's funny

 

lmo1131

New member

• Mar 26, 2011

• #12

HWY 1 up to HWY 36 and across is a day or more of twisting winding roads with amazing scenery.

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Carmel Valley Road (G16) over to Greenfield on 101 ... you'll be too busy stirring the handlebars to even notice the scenery (which is pretty bleak...).

 

-CRASH-

New member

• Mar 26, 2011

• #13

Lmo1131 said:

(which is pretty bleak...).

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You have the gift for understatement. Although there are a few spots that scream of Deliverance.

 

lmo1131

New member

• Mar 27, 2011

• #14

Stopping at the Running Iron Cafe in Carmel Valley helps; Carmel Valley Road and Via Contenta [36??28'41" N, 121??43'44"W].

If you're eastbound, it's the last housely house for forty-five miles.

 

lmo1131

New member

• Mar 28, 2011

• #15

Three's a charm!

Sunday, 27 March, 2011

A mudslide consisting of multiple rocks has closed Highway 1 in both directions at Alder Creek (Post Mile 8), which is 38 south of Big Sur. As a result of this recent slide, Hwy. 1 continues to be temporarily closed on both sides of Big Sur -- Rocky Creek on the north and Alder Creek on the south.

Due to severe roadway damage to the southbound lane, a 2-mile section of Hwy. 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile
60.5) continues to be closed in both directions. The closure is north of Big Sur from the Bixby Creek Bridge to Palo Colorado Road, south of Carmel. This barricaded closure is for all travel including emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Hearst Castle (San Simeon) is open via the southern approach via Cambria.

CalTrans Report posted Monday, 28 March, 2011

 

jstrube

John.

• Mar 28, 2011

• #16

So Big Sur is totally cut off? We were planning on camping there in June...

 

H

Harrington

Guest

• Mar 28, 2011

• #17

JStrube said:

So Big Sur is totally cut off? We were planning on camping there in June...

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IIRC the south blockage is only a rock slide. That might be easily manageable. The road that dropped off the mountain is another story.

 

D

dbrick

rabid reader

• Mar 28, 2011

• #18

JStrube said:

So Big Sur is totally cut off? We were planning on camping there in June...

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We have reservations out there at the end of June too. I think the chances that by that time one end or the other will have at least one-lane access is good. I certainly hope so.

(pause)

I just checked the CalTrans website for road conditions. The northern closure (between Bixby Creek and Palo Colorado Canyon) is still closed. The southern closure at Limekiln is not mentioned; I take that to mean the slide there has been cleared. As to the other southern closure just south of Lucia, the CalTrans site said:

IS SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION 0.5 MI SOUTH OF LUCIA
(MONTEREY CO) FROM 0700 HRS TO 1700 HRS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 9/2/11 -
DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

So: access from the south is now available.

 

Last edited: Mar 28, 2011

Polarbear

Polarbear

• Mar 29, 2011

• #19

NEWT's:

Watch for "Newt" Crossings sign on Carmel Valley Road! Funniest sign I ever saw, for NEWTs....Yep, its a small salamander critterRandy

 

lmo1131

New member

• Apr 6, 2011

• #20

Southern access is open to Big Sur. The northern end is expected to take a few more weeks.

Shot taken from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (looking south).

I swear, this should be the site of AMA Supersport Championship.

 

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