Arguably one of the most pictured roads in California, the iconic Highway 1 was severed near Big Sur last spring when six million cubic yards of earth slid into the Pacific Ocean. This landslide resulted in 50 acres of displaced land, including the creation of 2,400 feet of new shoreline. A one-quarter mile section of roadway was lost due to this landslide. California’s Highway 1 has officially reopened and motorists can now drive from Monterey in the north to San Luis Obispo in the south for the first time in 18 months.
“California’s travel and tourism industry is thrilled that Highway 1 will reopen in late July, months earlier than original estimates,” according to Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta. “Highway 1 is better than ever, and California’s Central Coast is eager to welcome visitors to experience it for themselves.”
The California Department of Transportation first projected that the repairs would be complete in September 2018 but were able to successfully complete the work several months early. The rebuilding effort included construction seven days a week, dawn to dusk for most of the past year.
Image: Chris Leipelt
