On May 23, 2025, the eve of Memorial Day weekend in the United States, California announced the reopening of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that had been closed for months due to the impact of wildfires in Los Angeles. The iconic route that connects Los Angeles with Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and northern regions will be open to the public starting from 8 a.m. on Friday.
The PCH serves as a vital lifeline for hundreds of thousands of residents of Los Angeles and international tourists on a daily basis. However, since the Palisades Fire in January, the highway had been restricted to residents and emergency personnel only.
Just a few weeks ago, heavy rains had caused mudslides, resulting in the complete closure of the highway. Currently, Los Angeles city is finalizing safety plans for the reopened areas. With this reopening, two lanes in each direction of the highway will be available for public use.
At the same time, the mayor of Los Angeles has instructed the police department to increase deployment in the Palisades area, including round-the-clock personnel at checkpoints for inspections.
1) While two lanes in each direction of the highway will be open to the public for easier access, maintenance work is still ongoing.
2) For the safety of maintenance and emergency personnel, drivers are advised to exercise caution when driving through the area, stay to the side as much as possible, and reduce speed (limit of 25 mph).
3) Due to the upcoming holiday weekend and ongoing construction, traffic is expected to be very congested. Drivers are advised to be prepared for delays, allow extra time for travel, or seek alternative routes.
4) The California Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) remind drivers that fines for traffic violations within construction zones may be doubled.
Despite the reopening of the Pacific Coast Highway, the recovery from the wildfires is still ongoing. Workers continue to operate around the clock, clearing debris, demolishing damaged structures, removing hazardous materials, repairing roads, and installing new public utilities.