California’s Highway 1 Fully Opens Through Big Sur Years After Major Landslides

Highway 1 through Big Sur fully opened Wednesday for the first time in three years, ending its longest sustained closure after crews cleared a troublesome slide area months ahead of schedule.

The reopening of the Regent’s Slide section north of Lucia restores the iconic coastal connection between Carmel and Cambria, which had been severed by a series of massive landslides starting in 2023.

The project was completed nearly 80 days earlier than Caltrans’ previous estimate of March 30. The massive repair effort involved crews using remote-controlled heavy equipment and drilling more than 4,600 steel reinforcements up to 60 feet deep into the hillside to stabilize the unstable terrain.

While much of Highway 1 was open throughout the last three years, it was essentially split in two by Regent’s Slide, which occurred on Feb. 9, 2024, and Paul’s Slide, which hit six miles to the south on Jan. 14, 2023.

Gov. Gavin Newsom called the roadway the “lifeblood” of the regional economy, saying in a statement that its “reopening will bring much-needed relief to small businesses and families in Big Sur and the surrounding communities who have shown remarkable resilience and strength.”

Ben Perlmutter, managing partner at the Big Sur River Inn, said the restoration of the through traffic is a critical lifeline for local businesses that have seen a decrease in revenue since the road was first cut off.

Perlmutter added that the early opening is particularly vital for the upcoming summer season, as visitors typically begin making their travel arrangements months in advance.

He noted that during the closure, travelers from Southern California often bypassed the region entirely because they could not complete the full coastal drive.

“You have to plan well in advance if you want to have a place to stay in Big Sur over the summertime. We have a very limited capacity in terms of places to stay overnight, in terms of places to dine and places to even visit,” Perlmutter said. “The road opening now means people can make plans for their summer vacations well in advance.”

State Sen. John Laird, who represents the region, said the closure created lasting hardship by threatening the region’s economic stability.

He noted that reopening the corridor restores jobs and reconnects families to their livelihoods for the first time since the Regent’s Slide occurred in early 2024.

While the road is now fully open, Caltrans officials warned that the 75-mile stretch of coastline remains one of the most landslide-prone areas in the country. Travelers are encouraged to check current conditions, as seasonal winter storms may still cause temporary delays or debris removal efforts in the future.