Cracks in a support column under the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur continue to grow, causing an indefinite closure of the road.At 5pm on Wednesday, car and pedestrian traffic were stopped completely. Caltrans crews plan to reassess the bridge’s stability on Feb. 21, but there is no guarantee the bridge will open again on that date.“It’s a situation that is still evolving,” says Caltrans spokesman Jim Shivers. “It’s too soon to know if the bridge will need to be replaced.”Recent rain caused a landslide on the west side of Pfeiffer Canyon, pushing mud and soil downhill—and under the bridge. That moving earth shifted the middle bridge support column, according to a Caltrans official surveying the damage Wednesday. As the base of the column moved downhill, the top started to crack and fracture. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/news_blog/photos-highway-bridge-in-big-sur-closes-indefinitely/article_59c5aaac-f466-11e6-ae4f-0741bcadb46c.html

Thank you so much for posting this. Was planning to drive that route in late May, so I'll be following this story.California storms are really raising havoc - I feel sad for those who live there and whose lives are so disrupted. Bushay Recreation Area inland at Ukiah has closed for now - got a cancellation notice from Recreation.Gov yesterday. All of us planning to visit the state have to look at our routes and options.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/See-the-Big-Sur-bridge-that-s-cracked-and-10951909.phpThe Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one."Due to extreme safety concerns and the bridge's dynamic instability, everyone needs to stay clear and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge," a statement from the government agency reads. The closure means travelers can no longer make the complete road-trip along California's scenic Highway 1. Motorists may now only travel south on State Route 1 from Carmel to just south of Palo Colorado in Monterey County and north from Cambria to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.

Thanks for that update. Definitely affects my previous plan to drive up the coast through the Big Sur area.

We have spent time right in that vicinity. Man, the people just south of the bridge are up the creek without a paddle.News article with storiesIn fact, this resort says they are closed because the road south is blocked too.http://www.postranchinn.com/important-notice/

Buzzcut1 wrote:http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/See-the-Big-Sur-bridge-that-s-cracked-and-10951909.phpThe Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one."Due to extreme safety concerns and the bridge's dynamic instability, everyone needs to stay clear and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge," a statement from the government agency reads. The closure means travelers can no longer make the complete road-trip along California's scenic Highway 1. Motorists may now only travel south on State Route 1 from Carmel to just south of Palo Colorado in Monterey County and north from Cambria to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.LinkThat is some real bad damage.

Hwy 1 at Pfeiffer Big Sur: bridge failure indefinite closure

15 Replies

rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 25, 2017
Buzzcut1 wrote:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/See-the-Big-Sur-bridge-that-s-cracked-and-10951909.php

The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one.
"Due to extreme safety concerns and the bridge's dynamic instability, everyone needs to stay clear and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge," a statement from the government agency reads.
The closure means travelers can no longer make the complete road-trip along California's scenic Highway 1. Motorists may now only travel south on State Route 1 from Carmel to just south of Palo Colorado in Monterey County and north from Cambria to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.

Link

That is some real bad damage.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Feb 24, 2017
We have spent time right in that vicinity. Man, the people just south of the bridge are up the creek without a paddle.

News article with stories

In fact, this resort says they are closed because the road south is blocked too.

http://www.postranchinn.com/important-notice/
NCWriter
Explorer
Feb 24, 2017
Thanks for that update. Definitely affects my previous plan to drive up the coast through the Big Sur area.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Feb 23, 2017
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/See-the-Big-Sur-bridge-that-s-cracked-and-10951909.php

The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one.
"Due to extreme safety concerns and the bridge's dynamic instability, everyone needs to stay clear and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge," a statement from the government agency reads.
The closure means travelers can no longer make the complete road-trip along California's scenic Highway 1. Motorists may now only travel south on State Route 1 from Carmel to just south of Palo Colorado in Monterey County and north from Cambria to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.
NCWriter
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017
Thank you so much for posting this. Was planning to drive that route in late May, so I'll be following this story.

California storms are really raising havoc - I feel sad for those who live there and whose lives are so disrupted. Bushay Recreation Area inland at Ukiah has closed for now - got a cancellation notice from Recreation.Gov yesterday.

All of us planning to visit the state have to look at our routes and options.

Forum Discussion

Hwy 1 at Pfeiffer Big Sur: bridge failure indefinite closure

15 Replies

About Bucket List Trips

Related Content

Water Pump Failure Traveling To The Eclipse

Ram Cummins/Aisin Failures

Jack Failure Disaster

Tire Failure

Backup camera failure