Great news for Memorial Day travelers! A vital 11-mile section of the Pacific Coast Highway is scheduled to reopen today just ahead of Memorial Day weekend. PCH has faced months of closure to regular traffic as a result of the devastating Palisades Fire.
Multiple local L.A. news sources have reported on this latest PCH reopening date. And California Governor Gavin Newsom made an official announcement today confirming the Pacific Coast Highway reopening. The announcement confirmed that “State Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) will reopen to all drivers at 8 a.m. Friday, May 23, in time for the Memorial Day weekend.”
Pacific Coast Highway is officially open between Santa Monica and Malibu as of 8:00 AM this morning. However, Caltrans District 7 has warned of delays while traveling and advises travelers to have patience while they’re on this newly reopened route.
Massive Cleanup Efforts
Since early January, the highway has been off-limits to non-residents while multiple crews have continued cleanup operations. Currently, access to PCH is limited to residents of the Palisades Fire burn area, essential businesses, and cleanup and repair crews. When Governor Gavin Newsom announced last month that the route would reopen by the end of May, he stated that only one lane in each direction would be available for public travel.
As if the damage from the Palisades Fire wasn’t enough, just a few weeks ago, PCH had to be closed completely due to mudslides from severe storms. In recent days, cleanup crews have been working 24/7 to clear debris, remove toxic materials, and repair roadways.
How To Stay Updated With PCH Openings
Here’s how to get real-time SoCal road updates:
- Caltrans Mobile QuickMap website and app
- Caltrans accounts on X
- District 7 – Los Angeles/Ventura – @CaltransDist7
- LA County Public Works Road Closure Website – See updates for roads maintained by LA County Public Works.
- Google Maps – They are updating road closure information in real time.
For the latest information on local road conditions, you can visit CA.gov/LAfires.