Overview

• Caltrans says the date is an estimate that could shift with winter weather or additional slide movement, with worker safety prioritized.
• Crews are working daily with a top-down approach, using drones and remote-controlled excavators and installing dowels and steel bars after removing more than 300,000 cubic yards of debris.
• The closure spans about 6.8 miles between Esalen and Lucia, while roughly 100 miles between Cambria and Carmel remain open.
• The effort has cost about $82 million so far, and Caltrans plans monthly progress reports with more frequent updates as March approaches.
• Other slide zones reopened earlier, including Rocky Creek and Paul’s Slide in 2024, yet businesses report severe losses estimated at about $1 million per day.