It could be a month before Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast is fully open to traffic again.

Caltrans reports that repairs are underway on three major landslides – Paula Hill, Mill Creek Hill and North Star.

On Paula Hill in Monterey County, Caltrans says the k-rails and flexible rock fence that were installed to catch falling rocks and debris are no longer working and the hill has moved onto the roadway.

On Mill Creek Hill, water and mud are still flowing onto the highway after crews cut through the saturated soil that made up the landslide material. Caltrans says the slope above the highway is likely to have a catastrophic failure in the near future, and work at the location has been halted until crews can reach the slope above.

The North Star slide in San Luis Obispo County also remained active as crews worked to remove slide material from the roadway. Caltrans reports that as of Jan. 21, crews were working down from the top of the slide and making good progress, but work continues to get the material onto the roadway.

Caltrans

Caltrans estimates that work on each facility could take up to four weeks before they can reopen the road.

A total closure of Highway 1 is currently in effect from the Elephant Seal Vista area four miles north of San Simeon to the Lime Creek Bridge.