Drivers and local businesses along the coastal route from Los Angeles to Malibu are poised for a breath of relief as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is scheduled to reopen on Friday, ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. The essential corridor has been off-limits to general traffic for months due to damage from the Palisades Fire and subsequent mudslides. KTLA has reported that the reopening is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s aggressive "all-hands-on-deck" effort, which has seen extensive clearing and repairs being carried out by a combination of state and federal crews.
With two lanes opening in each direction, the thoroughfare's return to operation is expected to alleviate the strain on local businesses that have suffered without their normal influx of traffic and customers. In a push to expedite the reopening, crews have reportedly been removing an astonishing "1,284 truckloads of debris daily," utilizing the PCH itself as a haul route, thus reflecting a monumental effort to restore a semblance of normality to the scenic drive, NBC Los Angeles has detailed. Despite the swift turnaround, concerns over security plans for the fire-damaged areas persist, with state and city officials at apparent odds over final preparations.
Local leaders are actively involved in briefing the community and addressing outstanding queries. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park is set to host a virtual community meeting, according to KTLA, providing residents with an opportunity to discuss the imminent changes. Meanwhile, travelers are likely to see an increase in road activity, as the Automobile Club of Southern California predicts a notable surge in vehicular movement, expecting 2.9 million SoCal residents to take to the highways for the holiday weekend, a forecast echoed by reports from NBC Los Angeles.
While the ambitious operation has yielded quick results, not all details about the full restoration of PCH are clear. According to a FOX 11 article, Gov. Newsom's announcement last month indicated a phased reopening, initially with one lane open in each direction.
