California 1 Still Shut South of Big Sur

California 1, damaged by storms the weekend of Feb. 12-13, remains closed at one point south of Big Sur. But California Department of Transportation crews have reopened most of a 25-mile stretch of the scenic highway that had been closed immediately after the storm.

About 400 feet of roadway just south of the community of Lucia, at a point called Pitkin Curve, “is not there” after a landslide, said Jim Drago, a Caltrans spokesman. Crews hope to “get something opened within 60 days,” at least a one-lane detour, but it could take longer, said Carol Beardsley, division chief for resource management at the local Caltrans office in San Luis Obispo. She said part of the problem is that the road is above a marine sanctuary, so repairs must not damage the fragile environment.

Motorists driving from Los Angeles and other areas south of the closure who want to stay on U.S.- and state-maintained roads can go north on U.S. Highway 101 and take the California 68 exit to Monterey, where they can pick up California 1 south to Carmel, Big Sur and other tourist areas, officials said. Beardsley said last week that businesses in those areas are open and accessible, although drivers “may encounter some traffic controls” for road repairs.

In 1998, El Nino storms also damaged California 1, isolating the Big Sur coast for months and costing millions to repair. Beardsley said Caltrans doesn’t yet have an estimate for the current repairs.