In post-fire milestone, Pacific Coast Highway reopens, easing traffic bottleneck

In a major post-fire milestone Friday, Pacific Coast Highway reopened to traffic for the first time since the Palisades fire incinerated homes and businesses along the oceanfront in January.

The reopening of an 11-mile stretch of PCH offers greater access to Malibu and Pacific Palisades ahead of summer and may ease commutes for those trying to get to Los Angeles from Ventura County and the west Valley. It also marks a key step forward in recovery efforts, officials said.

“There’s more work to do, and we’ll continue expediting all aspects of the recovery effort until every family is back home,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a post on X.

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By 8 a.m. Friday it was off to the races for motorists who were once again able to drive the winding oceanfront highway as two lanes of traffic were opened in both directions. But the commute wasn’t all that speedy for most — and it likely won’t be for a while, officials warn.

Road crews are still working in the area, so the speed limit has been reduced to 25 mph. Traffic signals at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Big Rock Drive, La Costa Beach Club and Carbon Canyon Road are set for flashing red, meaning drivers will have to stop.

While much of the highway’s traffic was steady for the morning commute, traffic lights and stop signs created bottlenecks in some areas. Debris removal crews and construction workers labored alongside the highway, cleaning and completing other roadwork as cars streamed by.

Marco Palma, 50, arrived at Surfrider Beach at 7:30 a.m. with his longboard ready to take on the waves. He spent an hour in the car driving from East Los Angeles for the chance to finally reach the sand, but he didn’t mind the reduced speed limit.

“It’s a very small price to pay, the delay of 10 or 15 minutes, just to get access to this again,” Palma said. “I was just happy to be back in the water floating around, feeling the breeze.”

The serenity of the moment was interrupted by a lingering reminder of the Palisades fire’s devastation — ash and bits of burnt wood and debris are still lingering in the water, he said.

Cars and construction vehicles were driving slowly along the scenic stretch of highway just a few feet from Felicia Daffara’s home and office Friday morning. The 50-year-old was marveling that the highway was once again bustling after the months-long closure.

She pointed to a white house with an octopus design across the highway that’s expected to be leveled on Friday as fire cleanup continues.

A moment later, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol car flashed its lights to pull over a motorist. While most drivers were abiding by the 25 mph speed limit, several were spotted trying to race through calmer sections of the highway.

“Speed isn’t going to be a problem,” Daffara said. “I saw a woman who was swerving in between lanes get tickets right in front of our office.”

A Times reporter saw at least three motorists being pulled over in less than an hour, and sheriff’s vehicles were parked at least every mile along the highway, while others patrolled the area.

Officials have warned drivers to bring their patience with them if they’re heading to the beach for Memorial Day weekend. Traffic is expected to be very heavy. Motorists are also likely to encounter a robust security presence in neighborhoods as authorities continue to restrict access into the burn areas.

For months many area residents have expressed concerns that reopening the highway without a security plan could create opportunities for thieves to take advantage of their already vulnerable properties.

Access to the Palisades will remain restricted to residents, business owners, employees and contractors. The number of Los Angeles Police Department checkpoints into the neighborhoods will increase from five to 16, and the California Highway Patrol will continue patrolling the area, according to the city.

On Wednesday, the Malibu City Council approved a contract with a private security firm to provide armed patrols to neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades and Franklin fires in anticipation of the highway reopening.

“While significant challenges remain, this development helps restore limited access for residents and travelers along the coast,” Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins said of the highway reopening. “The City remains focused on ensuring public safety as we enter the summer season, and we continue to monitor conditions closely.”

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By Friday afternoon, the sun had finally started to peek through the clouds and the parking lots at Malibu Village Mall and Malibu Country Mart were nearly full. Shoppers streamed — bags in hand — from stores to restaurants soaking up the summer-like weather.

Many business owners are celebrating the return of visitors, hoping the highway’s reopening will spur people to spend time and money in the area and help restore its vitality.

Amanda Brown, 39, was ecstatic about people coming back to Malibu to support businesses and enjoy the pier after seeing the city turn into a ghost town the last few months.

“I think the news was just really focusing in on all the devastation and the closure so people weren’t really motivated to come out here,” she said.

With the cleanup efforts underway, Brown said the business community has been brainstorming summer live music events that she hopes will draw people back to the pier.

Others are a little more skeptical.

At Colony House Liquor and Gifts in Malibu, an employee at the cash register Friday morning said he doesn’t mind the highway reopening, but he feels uneasy about the people who are just driving through to see what’s left of the community after the fires.

“I get it, people want to see, but there’s nothing to look at,” said the man, who identified himself only as J.H. “It isn’t the same. I don’t know when or if Malibu will ever be the same.”