Hwy 1 at Pfeiffer Big Sur: bridge failure indefinite closure

[Buzzcut1]

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-indefini...

[Jbrowland]

Glad I saw this. Heading south from SF in three weeks. Thanks. Looks like a slight change of plans is in order now.

[paulj]

Bridge will be knocked down Monday. They are working on a 30 minute hiking trail down and across the canyon. Landslides to the south have been cleared.

[eDUBz]

Gene&Ginny wrote:

eDUBz wrote:
https://tonilynntrottier.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/end-of-the-road-landslide-shuts-famed-californian-highway-1-as-big-chunk-falls-into-the-sea/

clicky

edit: Just saw the dateline on the story was 2011

Haha krap! That's what Happens when someone on FB post and you copy and paste

[BizmarksMom]

Gene&Ginny wrote:

eDUBz wrote:
https://tonilynntrottier.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/end-of-the-road-landslide-shuts-famed-californian-highway-1-as-big-chunk-falls-into-the-sea/

clicky

edit: Just saw the dateline on the story was 2011

Yeah, that section has been repaired. It's really dramatic looking, though. More dramatic than the pictures of the condemned bridge.

[Gene_Ginny]

eDUBz wrote:
https://tonilynntrottier.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/end-of-the-road-landslide-shuts-famed-californian-highway-1-as-big-chunk-falls-into-the-sea/

clicky

edit: Just saw the dateline on the story was 2011

[eDUBz]

https://tonilynntrottier.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/end-of-the-road-landslide-shuts-famed-californian-highway-1-as-big-chunk-falls-into-the-sea/

[dave54]

Too bad.

That section of Hwy 1 is on every Top Ten Scenic Drives list.

[BizmarksMom]

Thanks, 2gypsies!

[2gypsies1]

BizmarksMom wrote:
The whole area is a mess.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article135046339.html

Here's the 'clicky':

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article135046339.html

[BizmarksMom]

The whole area is a mess.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article135046339.html

[rhagfo]

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]

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]

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

[Buzzcut1]

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.