Big Sur is known for landslides that often cause road closures. One earlier this year closed a portion of the famous highway while repairs were underway.
This has made it difficult for those looking to go sightseeing in the iconic area, especially during the good spring weather. Luckily, Highway 1 has officially reopened as of Friday May 17, just in time for Memorial Day weekend trips.
The reopening was announced by Governor Newsome last week, eight days ahead of the predicted schedule.
“Crews have been working day and night to quickly repair the damage to Highway 1 caused by recent storms, which has disrupted the lives of individuals living in and around Big Sur – limiting access to the area and hampering tourism. Thanks to the diligent efforts, traffic will resume eight days ahead of schedule – bringing relief and a sense of normalcy back to one of California’s most iconic coastal communities.” Stated the Governor in a recent press release.
The slip-out happened on March 30, leaving part of the scenic route closed for six weeks. The landslide was south of Rocky Creek Bridge and just north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, leaving the subsequent parks closed while the highway was repaired.
The highway is reopening with the use of a signalized traffic control, which will allow alternating lanes of traffic. It will be open 24/7 and unrestricted to the public. If you do plan on driving on the route, expect some traffic since that portion of the highway is down to only one lane. Still, we’re glad it’s open again so people can enjoy the iconic part of California, especially if you have Memorial Day plans in the area.
For information about any similar emergencies in the Monterey area, check out the county’s emergency page. For road closure updates and more, check the Caltrans District 5 X page.