PCH to reopen Friday for first time since Palisades Fire
An 11-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway will reopen Friday for the first time since the Palisades Fire. Two lanes will be restored in each direction.The reopening comes earlier than expected, just ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. Governor Gavin Newsom called for a coordinated emergency response, which accelerated the timeline. Local businesses, many of which have gone months without regular customers, are hoping the return of traffic brings a much-needed boost.'Reopening PCH is a top priority, and we are going all-in to get this done,' Newsom said in an April 12 statement.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Caltrans, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have deployed hundreds of workers and heavy equipment in order to finish ahead of the deadline. According to The Malibu Times, more than 100 Army Corps crews have been working around the clock. They've been demolishing structures and hauling away more than a thousand truckloads of debris each day. The highway itself is being used as the main haul route.Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol are also urging drivers to follow 'Move Over' laws to keep workers and first responders safe.Officials warned that while the road will be open, traffic will likely be heavy over the weekend, and construction is still ongoing. Drivers should expect delays, plan for extra travel time, or consider alternate routes.
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