Pacific Coast Highway reopens early following Palisades Fire closure
Pacific Coast Highway reopened to all traffic Friday morning, marking a major recovery milestone following months of closure due to the devastating Palisades Fire.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced earlier this week that the iconic highway would reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and ahead of the end-of-May target set last month.
Up to two lanes are now open in each direction, with a 25 mph speed limit through active work zones.
The reopening restores access to Malibu's beaches and communities after months of limited mobility along the coast. PCH had been closed since January, when mudslides and fire debris rendered it impassable in key segments.
The early reopening was made possible through coordinated efforts among Caltrans, the California National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Los Angeles County agencies, officials said.
'The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step in Malibu's ongoing recovery from the recent wildfires,' Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins said Thursday. 'The City remains focused on ensuring public safety as we enter the summer season.'
Highway 27/Topanga Canyon Boulevard also reopened to the public Friday morning from PCH to Grand View Drive.
Access is limited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with construction remaining ongoing. Flaggers will be on site to direct one-way traffic, and delays are expected.
Traffic signals at several PCH intersections, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Big Rock Drive, are operating in flashing red mode, requiring drivers to treat them as all-way stops. Additional work continues on the southbound side of PCH, where the right lane may close between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for debris removal.
Visitors are advised to plan ahead, expect delays, and use alternate routes like Malibu Canyon and Kanan Dume roads when possible.
City officials also urge travelers to avoid stopping in burn areas and to respect local residents still recovering from the fire.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Watch crews blow up huge boulder on Hwy. 120 near Yosemite to clear rocky road
The sound of springtime on Highway 120 near Yosemite National Park is boulders being blown to smithereens. 'Every spring in @caltransd9, our maintenance crews encounter large boulders on State Route 120 West near Yosemite that slid onto the road during winter,' Caltrans wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday. The video above shows road crews executing the detonations of RV-sized rocks from the roadway. 'This year we captured part of the extensive blasting process in what is just one of the many required steps to opening the roadway,' a caption with the video says. 'These state employees work tirelessly to ensure the roadway and entire canyon are clear of all unauthorized personnel and are a safe distance away before any detonation.' Tioga Road (Highway 120) reopened for the summer on May 26, according to and sierra mountain The route — which primarily connects the Sierra Nevada and Mono County to San Joaquin Valley and is known as a direct route to Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area — was closed for the winter on Nov. 25.
UPI
6 hours ago
- UPI
FAA limits flights at Newark airport for the rest of 2025
June 7 (UPI) -- Arrivals and departures are limited for the rest of the year at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The restrictions took effect on Friday and limit arrivals and departures to 28 per hour on weekends while airport construction occurs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday. Arrivals and departures also are limited to no more than 34 per hour during other periods through Oct. 25. "The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges," the FAA announcement says. "The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation." Similar travel restrictions "paid dividends" by enabling "smooth travel into and out of Newark" over the Memorial Day holiday, according to the FAA. Officials at the federal agency recently met with airline representatives to discuss problems at the Newark airport that triggered long delays and flight cancellations that left many air passengers stranded for hours and sometimes longer. The discussions led to the current flight restrictions while undertaking several improvements at the airport and regionally. The FAA is working to improve operations at the Newark airport by adding three new high-bandwidth telecommunications links between New York-based hubs and the Philadelphia-based terminal radar approach control system for regional air traffic control. Old copper telecommunications connections will be replaced with fiber-optic technology for greater bandwidth and speed, and a temporary backup system to the Philadelphia-based TRACON system will be active while improvements are done. The FAA also is increasing air traffic controller staffing by adding 22 fully certified controllers and five fully certified supervisors at the Newark airport and others in the area. "The U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that the airport is a safe, efficient and functional gateway for passengers and air crews," the FAA announcement says.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sections of SR-56 to close due to maintenance
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Maintenance work will impact westbound State Route 56 next week. Sections of westbound SR-56 from Carmel Country Road to Carmel Creek Road are set to close Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Crews will install overhead sign structures spanning all lanes of travel, according to Caltrans. All westbound SR-56 motorists will exit Carmel Creek Road to Valley Center Drive, turn left on El Camino Real and turn right on Carmel Valley Road to northbound and southbound I-5 ramps on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday night. New street maintenance effort launched for area around Petco Park On Wednesday night, all westbound SR-56 motorists will exit Carmel Country Road, turn right on Carmel Country Road and turn left on Carmel Creek Road to the westbound SR-56 on-ramp. Caltrans is advising residents and businesses in the area to expect increased traffic on the detour note, construction noise and lights. Detour signage will be posted around the closures. The maintenance work schedule is subject to change due to weather, traffic incidents, or other maintenance considerations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
