Big Sur Bridge Rail Replacements
Project Description and Background
Caltrans proposes bridge rail replacements on six historic bridges along the Big Sur Coast to bring the facilities up to current standards. A Tier 1 Program EIR was approved and certified by Caltrans in 2021 which determined a Class 1 (Significant and Unavoidable) cumulative impact to visual resources and Class 2 (Significant but Mitigable) cumulative impact to cultural resources (historic bridges and associated historic district).
Tier 1 Program EIR for Big Sur Bridge Replacements (PDF)
Location: State Highway 1 in Monterey County on the Big Sur Coast
| Bridge Name |
Bridge Number |
Post Mile |
Year Constructed |
Status of Bridge Rail Replacement |
| Big Creek Bridge |
44-0056 | 28.1 | 1938 | Future Project |
| Bixby Creek Bridge |
44-0019 | 59.4 | 1932 | Future Project |
| Rocky Creek Bridge |
44-0036 | 60.0 | 1932 | Caltrans technical studies of the Type 511H bridge rail are ongoing. A notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Tier 2 EIR is available for review and comment. A draft of the Tier 2 EIR is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2026. |
| Garrapata Creek Bridge |
44-0018 | 63.0 | 1931 | Caltrans is pursuing a Coastal Development Permit from Monterey County for the Type 511H bridge rail. |
| Granite Canyon Bridge |
44-012 | 64.3 | 1932 | Future Project |
| Malpaso Creek Bridge |
44-0017 | 67.9 | 1935 | Future Project |
Project Description and Background
This project proposes to replace the deteriorated nonstandard concrete baluster bridge rail and approach railing on the Garrapata Creek Bridge (Br. No. 44-0018) located on State Route 1 (SR-1) in Monterey County approximately 11.3 miles south of Carmel-By-The-Sea. The Garrapata Creek Bridge structure is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and is located within the Carmel-San Simeon State Highway Historic District as well as within the Coastal Zone. Garrapata Creek Bridge (no. 44-0018) is an open spandrel arch bridge that was constructed in 1931, widened in 1998 and seismically retrofitted in 1987 and 1998. The bridge is 285-feet long and consists of 12-foot lanes and 0 to 1-foot shoulders. This structure has nonstandard concrete baluster bride rails on both sides of the structure. The rail end posts exhibit fine pattern cracking, and the barrier rail posts are severely deteriorated with dozens of incipient spalls and spalled posts in addition to previous impact damage. The irreversible damage from pervasive salt laden fog has accelerated the overall deterioration of concrete and reinforcing steel of the bridge rail, warranting replacement.
A Tier 2 EIR for the Garrapata Bridge Rail was approved and certified by Caltrans in 2021 and Caltrans pursued a Coastal Development permit through Monterey County proposing the Type 86H bridge rail. Ultimately the Type 86H bridge rail was denied a Coastal Development permit by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 2024. Since then, a speed study was completed and the speed limit at the bridge has been changed to 45 miles per hour. With the new speed limit, Caltrans is pursuing the Type 511H bridge rail at the Garrapata Creek Bridge. A visual schematic comparing the 86H to the 511H is provided below along with video simulations of the 511H concept at Garrapata Bridge. Caltrans is currently pursuing a Coastal Development Permit through Monterey County and completing a CEQA/NEPA analysis for the Type 511H bridge rail.
Purpose and Need
This project proposes to upgrade the existing nonstandard bridge railing to current standards in order to ensure the safety and reliability of Highway 1. The reinforced concrete barrier rail posts have deteriorated along 75% of the left and right barrier lengths and Severe cracking with unsound concrete and spalls with exposed rusted rebar have been documented in historic Bridge Inspection Reports.
Project Description and Background
This project proposes the replacement of the historic concrete baluster bridge rail, a one-inch-thick polyester concrete bridge deck overlay, and replacement of the bridge approach railing to meet Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) standards. The project intends to preserve integrity of the character-defining features and historical significance of Rocky Creek Bridge through context sensitive railing solutions. The environmental document for this project (supplemental Tier 2 EIR) will analyze the rail design and associated impacts for the Rocky Creek Bridge rail.
Purpose and Need
The purpose of this project is to replace the historic concrete baluster bridge rail and bridge approach railing to meet MASH standards and to place bridge deck overlay on Rocky Creek Bridge (No. 44-0036). The 2021 Bridge Inspection Report (BIR) has identified the need to upgrade the bridge rails. There are several incipient spalls and spalls with exposed rebar in both bridge rails which typically measure three to six inches by six to 12 inches. This condition is predominantly located in the balusters throughout the southern half of the bridge and is most severe throughout the left bridge rail. Severe cracking with unsound concrete and spalls with exposed rusted rebar has been documented annually in 2015-2021 Bridge Inspection Reports. The existing overlay is 30 years old and well beyond its anticipated service life.
Notice of Preparation-Tier 2 EIR for the Rocky Creek Bridge Rail (PDF)
Project Contact
Aaron Wolfram, Project Manager
Phone: 805-858-8451
Email: aaron.wolfram@dot.ca.gov
Lucas Marsalek, Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisor)
Phone: 805-458-5408
Email: lucas.marsalek@dot.ca.gov
Enrique Huerta, Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Phone: 805-458-8939
Email: enrique.huerta@dot.ca.gov
Documents
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Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.