BIG SUR, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom and Caltrans announced that Highway 1 between Carmel and Cambria reopened at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 14, restoring a vital route along the Big Sur coastline. The roadway was cleared for traffic following the completion of a complex repair project at the site known as Regent’s Slide.
The restoration was finished approximately 90 days ahead of the original March 30 projection. This milestone marks the first time in nearly three years that motorists have uninterrupted access along the coastline. State officials noted the reopening is essential for reconnecting isolated communities and helping local businesses get back on their feet.
According to a state press release, the repair project involved significant engineering efforts to steady the sliding slopes. Construction crews installed more than 4,600 steel reinforcement bars, known as shear dowels, with some measuring up to 60 feet in length. These bars were drilled and cemented into the hillside in a grid pattern to secure the terrain.
To ensure worker safety on the steep terrain, Caltrans worked with Caterpillar Inc. to deploy bulldozers and excavators that were operated from a distance. Other specialized tools used during the project included highly maneuverable spider excavators and real-time drone monitoring to track slope movement.
In the days leading up to the reopening, crews removed approximately 6,000 cubic yards of mud and debris—equivalent to roughly 240 dump truck loads—that had been brought down by recent winter storms.
The closure at Regent’s Slide began on February 9, 2024. Its timeline overlapped with another major closure at Paul’s Slide, which restricted travel from early 2023 until mid-2024. The U.S. Geological Survey identifies this 75-mile stretch of the Big Sur coast as one of the most landslide-prone regions in the western United States.
While the highway is now open to through traffic, state officials cautioned that future winter weather could still affect travel along the coast. Remaining construction tasks or new storms may result in temporary delays or intermittent closures on the route. Travelers are encouraged to remain alert for changing conditions.
