Though Los Angeles continues rebuilding from the devastating wildfires that gutted several local communities in January, a positive milestone was reached on Thursday when a section of Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu was partly reopened.
As of 6:00 a.m. local time Thursday morning, residents of areas in Santa Monica, Malibu and the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles burned by the Palisades Fire can now use that stretch of the PCH. Owners and employees of essential businesses as well as school busses can also access that stretch.
However, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) has left several restrictions in effect. Among them: PCH runs only one lane in each direction; there is a 25 mph speed limit between Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu; signaled intersections continue to be treated as 4-way stop signs, with lights flashing red; no parking, stopping or pedestrians are allowed; and vehicle passing is forbidden.
In addition, the McClure Tunnel from westbound on the 10 Freeway to northbound on the PCH is one lane, and there is only one lane entering northbound from the California Incline.
CalTrans is recommending only “essential” travel, and the route is still closed to all other civilian traffic.
