Early morning light on the Rocky Creek Bridge
We’re happy to say that common sense appears to be prevailing and that pedestrians will be allowed to cross the Rocky Creek slide daily (beginning tomorrow, Wednesday March 30) at 7:00am and 4:00pm. But be there or be square. They will allow those to cross who are waiting at the appointed times, but not those who are less punctual (so they say). People needing to get back and forth between the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur have been forced to make some very long and sketchy drives (when alternate routes were even open), so today’s announcement has been welcome news to many.
On the other hand, Big Sur Kate is reporting that the goal of opening a lane to traffic by April 16 may, like the highway itself, be slipping away. CalTrans now thinks the end of April may be a more realistic estimate. Meanwhile the Alder Creek Slide (2 miles south of Gorda) may take up to a week to clear, but the Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. remains open and, all things considered, in reasonably good condition.
The Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. is certainly scenic – but it’s no highway and it’s not a reliable route in bad weather.
April 13 Update: CalTrans now says they may not be able to open a lane to traffic until early May …
April 15 Update: CalTrans plans to open a lane tomorrow from 5pm until 8am Sunday morning, then from 8pm to 8am daily (or perhaps we should say, nightly). Meanwhile, new sliding at Alder Creek is expected to keep the highway to the south closed for some time to come. Until the lane opens at 5 tomorrow, the Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. is, once again, the only way to access Big Sur by motor vehicle.
Xasáuan Today 