Board of Supervisors delayed decision on the bridge rail project and instead suggested a committee of six representatives to work on another alternative for the bridge rail. The committee is yet to be formed and will consist of three Big Sur representatives and three Caltrans representatives.
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Board of Supervisors delayed decision on the bridge rail project and instead suggested a committee of six representatives to work on another alternative for the bridge rail. The committee is yet to be formed and will consist of three Big Sur representatives and three Caltrans representatives. 〰️
Carmel Pine Cone. March 29th 2024
Monterey Herald Article
KSBW Action News
Please read Lisa Krieger’s San Jose Mercury News Article 1/4/24
Here is a great example of how Vector Construction company restored 3 historic bridge along Highway 30 in Oregon. We know it can be done!
Update December 6th 2023
Monterey County Supervisors had a unanimous denial vote for the appeal Caltrans had requested on the Garrapata Bridge Rail project. There will be another vote in January for final resolution and we will be sure to post that meeting here.
Update December 2023
Please read this wonderful letter from the Albion Bridge Stewards group who has been so kind to help Big Sur keep our historic bridges how they were designed!
Here is a link to Monterey County’s website on the project. It includes the Staff Report and other important links. The Staff Report is very concerning as it recommends the project be approved. There is misleading information there and we need the public to voice their concern with this.
CalTrans will be appealing to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on December 6th at 1:30pm. (please note the agenda and the 1:30 start time are dependent of the items held before it. You may need to join the meeting at an earlier time) It’s very important you let the Board of Supervisors know to uphold the Planning Commission’s DENIAL of the project, and request that they require restoration, not replacement, of the historic bridge.
Here's How You Can Stay Engaged!
Step 1: You can watch or listen to the meeting by visiting one of the below sites.
Granicus: https://monterey.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Monterey County Government Channel: http://www.mgtvonline.com/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/MontereyCountyTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCoInfo/
Step 2: When the Board of Supervisors begins to discuss the agenda item you want to comment on turn off your TV or live stream.
Step 3: To participate (to make public comment) please join by computer audio at: https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/224397747
OR to participate by phone call any of these numbers below:
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
Enter this Meeting ID number: 224397747 when prompted. Please note there is no Participant Code, you will just hit # again after the recording prompts you.
Step 4:You will be placed in the meeting as an attendee; when you are ready to make a public comment if joined by computer audio please Raise your Hand; and by phone please push *9 on your keypad.
Step 5: When it is time for public comments on the item you want to speak about, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors staff will unmute your phone. You’ll hear a prompt that will indicate your phone is unmuted. Staff will then ask you to state your name and begin your comments.
Update October 2023
The Garrapata Bridge Rail project has been dormant for some time, but recently, CalTrans reconvened the ADAC, (the design advisory committee that is comprised of community members) to request their input on several alternatives that were prepared in response to the Monterey County Planning Commission's denial of the first proposed project design. These were accompanied by video "drive by" visual simulations (requested by Keep Big Sur Wild as well as the Planning Commission). See them here on the CalTrans website (click on video simulations tab): https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5/district-5-current-projects/05-1h800
The simulations showed how the views would be obscured by the alternatives they proposed. The ADAC did NOT support any of the new alternatives, however, CalTrans will be moving forward soon with their appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of the project to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. The appeal date has not been scheduled, but we will send out an alert once we know the date of the hearing.
Update June 2023
The planner for the Bridge Rail project met with the California Coastal Commission and CalTrans, and they are making some changes to their project as well as preparing visual simulations that will show the openings and simulate the driving experience. They have requested an indefinite delay of the appeal hearing until they have completed their work to address comments and conduct another meeting with the same parties to show the simulations and receive additional input. We want to thank Caltrans for preparing this information as requested by the public and county staff. Keep Big Sur Wild will also prepare a visual presentation showing how the historic bridge rails are very important to the visual access of the coast.
Update April 23rd, 2023
Please say NO to modernizing the historic bridge railings in Big Sur
Request that the Board of Supervisors UPHOLD the Planning Commission's DENIAL of the modernization of the historic bridge rails for the Garrapata bridge.
Ask that the Board of Supervisors require that CalTrans RESTORE, NOT REPLACE AND MODERNIZE the bridge rails.
Please add your own thoughts about the legacy and importance of the historic bridges in Big Sur to personalize your testimony as you wish.
We need your voices to let the Board of Supervisors know that these bridges are important and deserve to be protected! Once the May 2nd agenda is released, we will provide additional details on the Zoom link and timing for this project.
Please send your comments to the following email addresses:
district1@co.monterey.ca.us -Luis Alejo's office
district2@co.monterey.ca.us -Glenn Church's office
district3@co.monterey.ca.us -Chris Lopez' office
district4@co.monterey.ca.us -Wendy Root-Askew's office
district5@co.monterey.ca.us -Mary Adam's office
Clerk of the board:
California Coastal Commission
dan.carl@coastal.ca.gov -Dan Carl
Donne.Brownsey@coastal.ca.gov -Donne Brownsey
Senator Laird:
Senator.Laird@senate.ca.gov Senator John Laird’s Office
Update March 14th 2023
Thank you to everyone who joined the Monterey County Planning Commission meeting. The Commission voted to DENY the Garrapata Bridge Rail Project. We thank our County Commissioners for the thoughtful discussion that lead to a positive outcome for saving the historic character these bridges bring to the Big Sur coast. The Coast Highway Management Plan states “Management activities along the highway corridor are based in the public trust, informed by an understanding of the area’s intrinsic qualities, and undertaken in a manner that preserves, maintains and where possible, restores those qualities for all time.”
Restoring the concrete railings is not a task that is impossible. They have done it already in the past, and it can be done again even better in the future. Enjoy this short video that shows how the railings allow you to see through them to the breaking waves below.
Big Sur’s historic bridges are an integral part of the driving experience on one of the most scenic drives in the world. CalTrans has recently undertaken an “emergency project” called the Big Sur Rail Replacement Project that would replace the railings on all of these bridges: Bixby, Big Creek, Rocky Creek, Garrapata, Granite Canyon and Mal Paso. The design options currently presented for the project would forever alter and modernize these bridges, destroying their iconic character and ignoring their historic and cultural importance. While safety is an imperative, all improvements must be guided by recognition that the aesthetic beauty of these bridges is a key part of the Big Sur experience and they must be RESTORED, NOT REPLACED. There is no basis for the replacement of these railings with monolithic, concrete railings that will destroy the historic integrity of Big Sur’s stunning bridges.
Keep Big Sur Wild’s goal for this project is to do everything in our power to see that these historic, balustrade style bridge railings are not destroyed and replaced with modern, industrial railings. While the initial environmental document for the project has been certified by CalTrans, they must still obtain approval from Monterey County and the California Coastal Commission for all planned work. Thus, Keep Big Sur Wild is prioritizing this project as a primary focus.
UPDATE April 2022
The Bridge Rail project application has now been officially submitted for review to the County of Monterey’s planning department. Pending their assessment, the application will either be deemed “complete” for environmental review, or they will make an “incomplete” determination, meaning that Caltrans would need to submit additional details on the project before environmental review can proceed. Once the application is considered “complete” by the County, we will actively review the project against the protective policies in the Big Sur Land Use Plan and will let you know when the time is right for you to lend your voice. Recall that the Design Advisory Committee, which diligently met for months to advise Caltrans on the design of Garrapata’s bridge rail, recommended that RESTORATION, NOT REPLACEMENT, of the Bridge Railing is their official #1 stance. We need to support the committee’s restoration recommendation when the time comes, especially because this design will likely set a precedent for the other 5 historic bridges under consideration for this undesired and unnecessary modernization of Big Sur’s magnificent and iconic bridges (Big Creek, Bixby, Rocky Creek, Granite Canyon and Malpaso Creek). We received a response from Caltrans on our public records act request for the project, and are currently reviewing the documents they provided to see if there were any problems with how they obtained approval from the State Historic Preservation Office or in their development of alternatives.
UPDATE March 2022
The ADAC (Design Advisory Committee) recommended as its primary alternative that the Garrapata bridge railing is restored not replaced. This recommendation will be forwarded to Monterey County as the official position of the committee. While Caltrans will still forward their preferred alternative to the county, this advisory committee has put forth their position as part of the official record. KBSW was able to participate in the final ADAC meeting.
Please see letters prepared by Keep Big Sur Wild’s attorney below:
