Highway 1 slide repairs continue to make strides along Big Sur coast

BIG SUR – Crews continue to make headway on the only remaining choke point between Carmel and Cambria on the Big Sur coast along Highway 1 with an eye on the goal of having the roadway completely open by spring.

Repairs at Regent’s Slide, which closed Highway 1 in Monterey County on Feb. 9, 2024, continues to advance with slope stabilization efforts contributing to sustained excavation activity, according to Caltrans. The slide originated about 450 feet above the roadway and resulted in the continued closure of a 6.8-mile segment of Highway 1.

Regent’s Slide is at post mile 27.8 and about 40 miles south of Carmel on the scenic highway. Crews began top-down removal of slide material on April 30, 2024.

The top-down method involves excavating from above the slide, removing displaced material until a stable, permanent slope is established. This approach was chosen because it prioritizes worker and public safety, aligns with the Coast Highway Management Plan, and ensures long-term slope stability.

It is not safe or feasible to remove material from the bottom, given the enormous volume of debris.

Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide is estimated to reopen to through traffic by the end of March 2026. The estimated timeline reflects the current progress on repairs and may change due to additional slide activity or adverse weather conditions, as safety remains the top priority.

Taking advantage of the recent clear weather, crews at Regent’s Slide continue to make cuts in the slope and remove debris material, says Caltrans. Climbing crews are also in full force on the slope above the roadway securing the mesh netting which will protect the traveling public from rockfall once the road is reopened. Data from measuring instruments indicate that since the installation of more than 4,500 shear dowels was completed last month, no significant slide movement has been detected. In the coming week, crews will install a new and larger culvert in the northbound shoulder to help convey water and debris under the roadway during storm conditions.

The primary function of shear dowels is to reinforce the slope by increasing its internal shear strength. By anchoring the unstable soil layers to more stable underlying materials, they help resist the forces that can cause landslides. This method is particularly effective in areas where traditional excavation or grading is not feasible due to environmental concerns or terrain challenges.

Of the estimated 550,000 cubic yards of material that is to be removed from the slide, more than 300,000 has already been taken away.

The repairs at Regent’s Slide have current approved expenditures of more than $35 million, and the total estimated cost is projected to be about $82 million.

Once work at Regent’s Slide is complete, it would open up Highway 1 to direct travel between Carmel and Cambria.

Currently, visitors coming from the north are able to travel to Big Sur, its businesses and surrounding area up to the northern-most closure point at Lime Creek — post mile 32.1 — just south of the Esalen Institute, while travelers from the communities of Cambria, San Simeon and the south coast continue to be within reach from Southern California up to the southern-most closure point at south of Vicente Creek Bridge at post mile 25.3.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.