PCH Will Reopen To Public By Start Of Summer, Governor Promises

MALIBU, CA — A key stretch of Pacific Coast Highway connecting Malibu and Pacific Palisades — closed to the general public since January's Palisades Fire — will be reopened by the end of May, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced.

"Thanks to around-the-clock work following the January LA fires, the Pacific Coast Highway is re-opening to one lane of traffic in each direction weeks ahead of schedule," Newsom said in a video posted to social media Saturday.

The road has been subjected to various restrictions in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire and subsequent rainstorms. Currently, only residents, essential businesses and repair crews are allowed to pass through checkpoints located at Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace. That forces other motorists heading to or from Malibu to take circuitous canyon routes.

"I'm deeply mindful of how disruptive this has been for residents, for businesses and for those that simply want to enjoy one of the most iconic highways anywhere in the United States," Newsom said. "The key to reopening this iconic highway is to make sure we do it quickly and also safely."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which is leading the post-fire cleanup effort — is prioritizing clearing debris from parcels along PCH. The Army Corps and other agencies will "work around the clock — literally 24/7" to demolish the damaged and collapsed homes, remove toxic ash and soot, repair the roadways and install new utility equipment, Newsom's office said.

There are more than 100 Army Corps crews using excavators, metal crushing equipment and dump trucks working on Palisades Fire parcels. They use PCH to travel to and from the work sites, removing nearly 1,290 truckloads of debris per day, the governor's office said.

When their work is complete, PCH will be reopened to the public with one lane in each direction, Newsom said.

At that time, security checkpoints will be removed, but "a robust law enforcement presence from state and local agencies will remain in place," Newsom's office said.