On Tuesday, March 28, California State Parks opened a bypass trail to local residents, school children and people who work south of the downed bridge. At this time, the trail is NOT open to tourists. Trail users must get a pass from California State Parks and sign a waiver. The trail opens a half hour before sunrise and closes a half hour after sunset.

The Central Coast community of Big Sur has been split in two for more than a month now. Along Highway 1 there are active mudslides to the south, and to the north a condemned bridge has been demolished. A replacement isn’t expected for another six months.

Just to the south of where the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge used to stand, a helicopter sits parked on Highway 1 in front of the Big Sur Deli. It’s a sign of the times in this now isolated part of the Central Coast.

But inside the deli, life feels almost normal. Music plays over the sound system, and the shelves look freshly stocked. It’s the only place that’s stayed open just south of the bridge.

“We have been doing supply runs around the south through Nacimiento,” says Stephen Mayer, who works at the deli, his family’s store. He's referring to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road -- the rugged and remote route that turns a normally one-hour drive to where Mayer lives in Monterey into four hours.

Going home has not been part of his daily routine since a winter mudslide damaged the bridge beyond repair.

“Yeah, I just sleep on the floor. I have an air mattress,” Mayer says.

He's been eager for the new hiking trail around the bridge to open. “Oh, it’s going to be very important. I think I’m going to be hiking in and out every day, if I can, just to get back home.”

Mayer and other locals have cars on either side of the downed bridge, meaning the trail will bring life back to normal -- kind of.

Waiting for the trail to open has been a test of patience for locals who willingly found ways to hike through the steep and rugged terrain before approaching the California State Parks about building a formal trail.

“It’s critical. It’s not like we can wait another month, or two months, or even a week,” says Carissa Chappellet. She’s been organizing locals to help State Parks and the California Conservation Corps build the trail. “I don’t know how to stress this cause for me I mean it’s really personal.”

Everyone on the south side of the bridge has a story of hardship from being isolated for more than a month.  

“I have a very dear friend, who is actually my ex-husband from years ago, who has stage IV cancer that I’ve been his primary care person for. So for a month I’ve been cut off from being able to help him. Luckily, I have some friends who are helping. This is one story,” Chappellet says.

There’s also the story of the roughly 40 kids who can’t get to school. For now, teachers are being helicoptered in. Other people who have been able to hang on to their jobs can’t get to work.

But the trail was no easy job. John De Luca of California State Parks says the steep hillside required the trail to be somewhat elaborate.

"There's really not much footing. You’d be on all fours grabbing at trees and branches to pull yourself up,” De Luca says.

The new trail is currently for Big Sur locals only. Expanding access is an ongoing debate, especially for local businesses who rely on tourists.

“It’s still being developed, the trail plan itself. But the intended use is for the immediate needs of the community,” De Luca says.