Pacific Coast Highway reopened to all traffic Friday after a more than four-month closure.
Only residents, first-responders and cleanup workers were allowed on the much-traveled Southern California road between Malibu and Santa Monica since the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire.
Gov. Gavin Newsom had said the roadway would reopen by the end of May.
“In California, we get stuff done, period,” Newsom said in a statement .”We’re opening the PCH back up early, with more lanes before Angelenos hit the road this Memorial Day. We are able to do this thanks to the tireless work of hundreds of construction and road crews and with help from our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers.”
The road’s speed limit is 25 mph speed limit for two lanes in both directions.
Authorities will maintain a heavy presence to restrict access to the Palisades Fire burn area. Mayor Karen Bass instructed the Los Angeles Police Department to increase the number of officers at checkpoints and other locations in the area, according to the mayor’s office. The number of checkpoints in the burn area were increased from five to 16 to restrict Palisades access to residents, business owners, employees and contractors.
“The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step forward in our recovery effort in the Palisades, which is on track to be the fastest in state history,” Bass said in a statement.
“As Pacific Coast Highway reopens, we will continue to protect the safety and security of Palisades neighborhoods through a strict security plan established in coordination with the state,” Bass said. “All of us have a shared goal — to ensure residents can safely and quickly rebuild and return to their community. We will continue working together toward that goal and recommit to clearing any barrier that stands in the way of recovery.”
The mayor thanked the governor, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and government agencies for working “around the clock to get families home and businesses reopened.”
Newsom added, “To the survivors of these fires: We have your back. As we continue rebuilding together, the state is committed to the security of neighborhoods and families who have been impacted.”
Corps of Engineers crews have prioritized clearing fire-debris from properties adjacent to PCH in an attempt to hasten the route’s reopening, according to the governor’s office.
Brig. Gen. William Hannan, who commands the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Phoenix, said more than 5,500 properties have been cleared — over half of all currently eligible properties in both areas impacted by the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires.
“Clearing critical areas along the Pacific Coast Highway has been particularly vital, given its sensitive ecological importance and its role as a lifeline for local communities,” Hannan said in a statement. “This effort exemplifies our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and community resilience.”
Motorists were advised to drive cautiously on PCH because of the continued presence of debris-clearance crews and public-safety personnel. Speed restrictions and traffic density were likely to lead to delays.
Malibu officials said traffic signals will display flashing red lights for all-way stops at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Big Rock Drive, La Costa Beach Club and Carbon Canyon Road. Stopping in the burn area is prohibited, and the right lane of southbound PCH may close for debris removal.
“The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step in Malibu’s ongoing recovery from the recent wildfires,” Mayor Marianne Riggins said in a statement. “While significant challenges remain, this development helps restore limited access for residents and travelers along the coast.”
Malibu officials suggested that people trying to access local beaches, trails and retail areas consider using Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Dume Road to avoid congestion on PCH.
Also on Friday morning, LA County Public Works officials fully reopened fire-affected Tuna Canyon Road in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu.
