California’s iconic Highway 1, the dramatic coastal road that winds along the Pacific has long been celebrated as one of the most scenic drives in the world. Landslides and storm damage at Regent’s Slide forced its closure for nearly three years, cutting off small towns and coastal communities that rely on the route for tourism and daily life.
But fortunately, today we can celebrate: Caltrans has just announced that the stretch of road connecting Big Sur to San Luis Obispo County is officially open to traffic, 90 days ahead of the originally scheduled completion date of March 30, 2026.
In the days before reopening, Caltrans cleared roughly 6,000 cubic yards of mud and debris (enough to fill 240 dump trucks) at the Regent’s Slide site, which occurred back February 9, 2024.
The reopening marks a massive milestone for the region, bringing much‑needed relief to local communities, revitalizing local economies just in time for the busy spring and summer seasons along California’s iconic coastline.