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In a milestone after the massive launch on Friday, the Pacific Coast Highway reopened in traffic for the first time since the Pallisard Fire in January incinerated homes and businesses along the seaside.
The 11-mile PCH reopening could increase access to Malibu and the Pacific Palisades before summer, and ease commutes for people trying to travel from Ventura County and West Valley to Los Angeles. It is also taking an important step in recovery efforts, officials said.
“There’s more to do and we’ll continue to promote all aspects of our recovery efforts until all families get home,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in an X post.
By 8am on Friday, two lanes of traffic were opened in both directions, and we went to race the drivers who were able to drive the winding oceanfront highway again. But commutes weren’t that quick for most people.
The speed limit has been reduced to 25 mph as road crews still work in the area. Traffic lights for Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Big Rock Drive, La Costa Beach Club and Carbon Canyon Road are set to flash red. This means that the driver must be stopped.
Much of the highway traffic was stable on morning commutes, but traffic lights and stop signs created bottlenecks in some areas. The debris removal crew and construction workers worked alongside the highway and cleaned and completed other road construction work so that the cars could flow.
Marco Palma, 50, arrived at Sulfrider Beach at 7:30am, and his longboard was ready to ride the waves. He spent an hour driving from East Los Angeles for the opportunity to finally reach the sand, but he didn’t mind the reduction in speed limit.
“To be able to access this again, it’s a very small price to pay, a 10- or 15-minute delay,” Palma said. “I was happy to go back to the water and feel the breeze.”
The tranquility of that moment was interrupted with prolonged reminders of the devastation of the Palisades’ fire. The ashes, charred wood and fragments of debris are still in the water, he said.
On Friday morning, cars and construction vehicles were slowly driving along the scenic stretches of the highway just a few feet from Felicia Dafara’s home and office. The 50-year-old was surprised that the highway was once again bustling after months of closure.
She pointed to the White House, which has an octopus design on the highway, which is expected to be leveled Friday if the fires continue to clean up.
A short time later, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle flashed lights and pulled the driver towards him. Most drivers adhered to the 25 mph speed limit, but some were discovered trying to run through a more gentle section of the highway.
“Speed won’t be an issue,” Dafara said. “I saw a woman spinning between the lanes grab a ticket just in front of our office.”
The Times Reporter said at least three drivers were drawn to the area within an hour, the sheriff’s vehicles were parked at least every mile along the highway, while other vehicles patrol the area.
Officials are warning drivers to bring patience if they are heading to the beach on Memorial Day weekend. Traffic is expected to be very heavy. Additionally, drivers may encounter robust security presence in their neighborhoods as authorities continue to restrict access to burned areas.
For months, many local residents have expressed concern that reopening highways without security plans could create opportunities for burglars to utilize their already vulnerable property.
Access to Palisades is limited to residents, employers, employees and contractors. The number of checkpoints at the Los Angeles Police Department has increased from 5 to 16, with the California Highway Patrol continuing to patrol the area, according to the city.
On Wednesday, Malibu City Council approved a contract with a private security company to provide armed patrols to areas destroyed by the Pallisard and Franklin shootings, anticipating the reopening of the highway.
“While important challenges remain, this development will help restore limited access to coastal residents and tourists,” Mayor Marianne Riggins, Malibu Mayor, said of the reopening of the highways. “The city is focused on ensuring public safety as the summer season enters and continues to monitor conditions closely.”
By Friday afternoon, the sun was finally beginning to peer into the clouds, and the parking lots at Malibu Village Mall and Malibu Country Mart were almost full. Shoppers streamed from shops to restaurants to restaurants, to restaurants that smoke the summery weather.
Many business owners are celebrating the return of their visitors. We hope that the reopening of the highways will help people spend time and money in the area and rejuvenate its vitality.
Over the past few months, 39-year-old Amanda Brown has eclipsed people returning to Malibu to help businesses and enjoy the pier after seeing the city become a ghost town.
“I don’t think people really motivated the motivations that came out here because this news was really focused on all the devastation and closure,” she said.
Cleanup efforts are underway, and Brown said the business community is brainstorming live summer music events.
Others are a little more skeptical.
With Malibu’s Colony House Liquor and Gifts, cashier employees said Friday morning they didn’t care about the highway reopening, but are feeling anxious about people just running to see the rest of the community after the fire.
“I got it, people want to see, but there’s nothing to see,” he said he identified himself as JH.
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