Big Sur businesses, workers impacted by Highway 1 closure due to weekend slip-out

BIG SUR – A Highway 1 skid near the Rocky Creek Bridge, which closed the road from Palo Colorado Road south to the Rocky Creek Bridge in Monterey County, has hampered operations in Big Sur in a foreseeable future, but there are signs that it may not be as bad as previous closures.

“The main difference with this one is that convoys provide pretty reliable access to supplies and employees,” said Big Sur Chamber of Commerce President and Nepenthe CEO Kirk Gafill. “But that doesn’t take into account the economic impact on businesses.”

The error occurred Saturday, shutting down the highway and stranding about 1,600 residents and visitors. Since Sunday, Caltrans has opened Highway 1 twice daily to convoys, but those convoys were canceled Thursday and Friday due to rain forecasts. They should resume on Saturday.

Gafill said nearly 100 percent of business volume is generated by visitors to the area. Currently, all national parks in the region are closed and officials advise against visiting the Big Sur coast.

Businesses in Big Sur will take a hit due to the restricted flow of traffic and tourism dollars in the days and possibly weeks to come.

Gafill said that won’t change or improve until public access resumes with at least some traffic using the northbound lane, where convoys were traveling. He added that it was a good sign that there was no weight limit.

If Caltrans can stabilize the road and restore public access to a single lane, business should be able to rebound to pre-skid levels, Gafill said. The sooner that happens, the sooner Big Sur businesses can recover.

In 2017, when the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge was rebuilt after its failure that closed Highway 1 for months, the economic impact was about $1 million a day, Gafill said citing state figures .

The Big Sur coast and Highway 1 attract visitors from around the world who want to experience the area’s natural beauty. The effects of the shutdown are certainly being felt locally, but also have implications for the state. People tend to cancel trips to destinations that have problems getting from one point to another or limited access to the attractions that bring them here in the first place.

The Big Sur International Marathon, scheduled for April 28, uses Highway 1 in that area as part of its route and organizers have not yet determined how to accommodate this latest weather-related event.

“As long as the highway is closed, the northern section will see visitors change their plans,” Gafill said.

The impact will be felt by both businesses and employees who have learned over time to manage periodic disruptions to the flow of visitors.

Gafill said every employer and employee has a different experience, but most companies have a conservative approach to finances and lines of credit to help them get through tough times. Some employees are aware that in times like these there could be reductions in hours and that it is important to manage your income and savings throughout the year as part of a plan to navigate this type of disruption.

Businesses can provide housing flexibility, supporting staff unable to pay rent, as it is in the best interest of the Big Sur business community to retain staff. Employers take a long-term view when it comes to resources and health insurance with mostly continuous coverage. Identifying available resources such as unemployment insurance, as well as other state and federal programs, is also used to assist staff and the workforce.

Gafill said the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce does not have a reserve or pool of funding for businesses or workers, but rather is the interface in the community with employers, employees and the Community Foundation of Monterey County, of which Gafill is the current board president.

Monterey County Community Foundation President and CEO Dan Baldwin said at this point the most immediate concern is lost wages and the inability to pay rent or buy food .

Unfortunately, the Foundation has responded to numerous disasters over the past eight years and is competent and experienced in accepting and deploying the money, he said.

This escape is still being evaluated by all parties involved.

“We need a better understanding of the needs,” said Baldwin, who added that people interested in helping Big Sur workers can visit https://www.cfmco.org/give-now/?fund=8798 .