Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that Caltrans will reopen Friday iconic Highway 1 in Big Sur, which was closed by a rockslide south of the Rocky Creek Bridge on March 30.
Newsom said the damage from recent storms had disrupted the lives of nearby residents and hampered tourism.
“Thanks to the diligent efforts, traffic will resume eight days ahead of schedule — bringing relief and a sense of normalcy back to one of California’s most iconic coastal communities,” he said.
The highway will reopen with one-way alternating traffic in both directions using automatic signals.
“Highway 1 is the jewel of the California highway system and our crews have been working non-stop for the last month and a half so Californians can have unrestricted access to this iconic area of our state,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
The rockslide left the southbound lane impassable, and a portion of a retaining wall that supported the highway fell into the ocean.
A project to construct a permanent repair to the highway at this location is currently in the design phase, with an estimated completion date of spring 2025.