Bridge closure leaves Big Sur community reeling
BIG SUR (AP) – Almost all the hotels, restaurants and state parks cut off when a bridge on the Central California coast crumbled last month remain closed, but Kurt Mayer chose to keep his deli and taproom open – even though it’s costing him.
Heavy rains this winter damaged the span on iconic Highway 1 beyond repair, splitting the touristy Big Sur area in two and stranding more than 400 residents on one side. Visitors have been blocked from reaching part of the community known for its luxury spas, posh hotels and scenic retreats.
For Mayer, the bridge closure means a six-hour, round-trip route several times a week to buy goods to stock the shelves. He also had to temporarily lay off 11 of his 16 employees.
Yet he’s keeping his doors open for locals who need produce, milk and propane.
“They support me all year long, and I appreciate it,” Mayer said. “In the bad times, you’ve got to try to come through for the people who come through for you all the time.”
The damaged Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge sits on an active landslide, which pushed out one of two columns holding it up. Crews are working to tear down the old span and replace it with a single-span steel bridge across the canyon, which will not sit on the slide.
Susana Cruz, a spokeswoman for California’s transportation agency, said construction is expected to cost about $20 million and take six to nine months – too long for some.
“We as a community simply will not survive in any way that is recognizable without a timely rebuild of that bridge,” said Big Sur Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Gafill, owner of the historic Nepenthe Restaurant, which has been serving Big Sur since 1949. The area also is without law enforcement and public services.
Gafill said Caltrans needs to prioritize the bridge replacement over other projects, or some businesses may go under. He had hoped for a different bridge design that could be built more quickly, but Cruz said the work is being expedited.
The bridge closure also has affected Gafill personally. His wife and 14-yearold son have moved to a friend’s condominium in Monterey to keep the boy in high school, creating chaos for the family.