Rain-stoked rock slide shuts Highway 1 south of Big Sur

Winter storms that brought rain to California’s Central Coast caused a big rock slide on Highway 1 that has shut traffic in both directions about 25 miles south of Big Sur, according to Caltrans. The road closed around 3 p.m. Sunday and remained shut Monday with no estimated time of reopening.

“The rock slide is due to rain over the weekend,” Caltrans spokesman Jim Shivers said, adding that road crews were on site and assessing the damage. The closure is near Limekiln Creek near the town of Lucia.

Northbound travelers who want to go to Big Sur, where all businesses remain open, should head east on California 46 near Cambria and connect with the 101 Freeway north. Then drivers can cut west to Monterey or Carmel and head south on Highway 1 or take a detour through the mountains.

California’s iconic roadway often has winter closures during the rainy season when debris slides onto lanes. Last year the road was temporarily shut near Carmel because of a March 16 landslide, and farther south at Alder Creek in April due to debris falling and blocking the roadway.

For up-to-date info on the closure, call (888) 836-0866.

[For the record, 7 a.m. Jan. 30: An earlier version of this post said northbound drivers should take a detour via California 46 east near San Luis Obispo. Drivers would pick up California 46 near Cambria.]