Caltrans announces reopening date for Big Sur slide on Hwy. 1. But there’s a caveat
Based on repair progress at the problematic Regent’s Slide site, Caltrans estimated Monday that Highway 1 could fully reopen for through traffic from Cambria to Carmel by the end of March.
As always, that estimate comes with caveats.
Seasonal storms, heavy downpours, earthquakes and sheer gravity — all can play havoc with schedules, estimates and work at the geologically active landmass about 27 miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Monterey county line.
The initial slide 450 feet above the roadway at the ever-changing Regent’s location started Feb. 9, 2024.
It added impacts to a previous slide six miles south of there, now cleared, that closed the highway initially on Jan. 15, 2023. Then continuing slides and cracks raised that to more than 650 feet, moving the ledge where crews can stage equipment and clear debris higher up the slide multiple times in the past year.
Since then, the slide has become the longest closure in Highway 1 history, according to area records.
“We are doing everything in our power to return this vital section of roadway to residents, businesses, and travelers who have demonstrated patience and understanding during the repair effort,” Caltrans District 5 Director Scott Eades said in a news release.
The estimated Regent’s Slide reopening date in March allows people to start making tentative plans now for their through trips from Cambria to Carmel and back, he said.
Highway 1 in the Big Sur area has a long history of slides
From Ragged Point to Carmel, slides are common along the crumbly, slippery-when-wet Lucia Mountain range that hugs Highway 1.
Regent’s Slide, however, has been a beast — a project rife with delays and dangers — as it continued to slide and erode above the area where crews were working to clear the tons of debris clogging the area.
“Dormant and active landslides resulting from millions of years of geologic activity surround the repair site, posing potential threats to worker safety and stability of the steep slopes,” the statement said.
In August 2024, Caltrans announced that repair work at Regent’s Slide would pause after crews discovered new surface cracks in the slope.
Many of those cracks were at or above the areas where crews were working.
“To date, 300,000 cubic yards of material has been removed, with 250,000 remaining until completion,” Caltrans said.
“Caltrans has maintained worker safety with consistent and vigilant monitoring methods, leveraging the latest equipment and technology to minimize risk and inform safety-first decision-making,” the state road agency said.
That included mitigating safety risks by deploying unmanned, remote-controlled equipment that has allowed bulldozers and excavators to resume progress without putting workers in harm’s way.
In May 2025, crews stabilized the slide by installing dowels and steel bars deep into the ground. This strategy has prevented any further slide activity and allowed the project to continue, Caltrans said. To date, more than 3,500 dowels have been placed.
The department also regularly uses geotechnical instruments, surface measurements and drone surveys to evaluate how stabile the Regent’s Slide work area is.
Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast is a vital roadway for residents and the regional business community. With the exception of the 6.8-mile closure area near Regent’s Slide, more than 100 miles of the highway remain open between Cambria and Carmel.
Visitors and other travelers from Southern California can reach the spectacular views and communities north of Cambria and San Simeon — such as Ragged Point, Gorda and Lucia — via sections of Highway 1 that are open. Travelers from the north can still access historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants and lodging amenities along the Big Sur coast.
Two destination marketing organizations provide up-to-date information, SLO CAL and See Monterey.
Find other road information and updates on Caltrans District 5 social media platforms: X, Facebook and Instagram.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Caltrans announces reopening date for Big Sur slide on Hwy. 1. But there’s a caveat."
