After three long years, California has reopened a seven-mile stretch of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria in Big Sur. The scenic route was closed in 2023 after back-to-back landslides caused destruction along the iconic coastline.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the re-opening, ahead of schedule, on Wednesday, January 14. The roadwork was originally expected to be completed by March 30.
“This reopening will bring much-needed relief to small businesses and families in Big Sur and the surrounding communities who have shown remarkable resilience and strength,” Newsom said. “I’m grateful to Caltrans crews for delivering Highway 1 ahead of schedule—deploying remotely controlled heavy equipment, stabilizing slopes with thousands of steel reinforcements drilled up to 60 feet deep, and using cutting-edge monitoring systems to overcome extraordinary geological challenges while keeping workers safe. This vital corridor is the gateway to California’s coast and the lifeblood of the Big Sur economy—and today it’s restored.”
Big Sur’s coastline is one of the most landslide-prone areas in the western United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Feel like taking a trip? Click here for a list of places to visit along Highway 1 in Big Sur.