Highway 1 Through Big Sur Fully Reopens Ahead of Schedule

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that a 6.8-mile stretch of Highway 1 in Big Sur reopened on Wednesday, January 14, nearly 90 days ahead of schedule, restoring full travel between Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.

The reopening marked the first time in nearly three years that travelers could travel uninterrupted along scenic Highway 1 between Carmel and Cambria. The reopened section includes the area known as Regent’s Slide.

The prolonged closure significantly affected daily life in nearby communities, disrupting travel and tourism. The reopening provides economic relief and restores regional connectivity for residents and businesses.

NEW: Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria in Big Sur has now reopened.

Grateful to @CaltransHQ crews for delivering 3 months ahead of schedule, reviving a vital economic lifeline for local business owners and residents affected by the closure. pic.twitter.com/hPuctcCWS8

— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 14, 2026

“This 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,” Governor Newsom said in a statement.

Additionally, Newsom credited Caltrans crews for achieving the early reopening through careful planning, innovation, and work in a challenging geological environment.

In a sight not seen for three years to the day, vehicles travel Highway 1 on Jan. 14, 2026, in front of the newly repaired Regent’s Slide. The highway’s full reopening to travel between Cambria and Carmel revives a vital economic lifeline for local business owners and residents. pic.twitter.com/le7qAiuj2s

— Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) (@CaltransD5) January 15, 2026

Regent’s Slide has been closed since February 9, 2024, impacting a 6.8-mile stretch of Highway 1 in Monterey County between the Esalen Institute and Lucia. The closure followed a landslide that originated roughly 450 feet above the roadway, sending debris onto the highway.

This landslide overlapped with Paul’s Slide, which was already closed along Highway 1 since January 2023 and reopened on June 23, 2024. 

Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy called the reopening a “significant milestone of local, national, and global interest,” noting that Highway 1 is among only a few truly iconic routes worldwide.

The reopening is expected to provide immediate benefits for Big Sur residents, improving access to essential services, commuting for workers, and the flow of deliveries and emergency vehicles. Tourism-dependent businesses are also expected to benefit.

Although the reopening marks a milestone, concerns remain about the area’s geological instability. The U.S. Geological Survey has identified the Big Sur coastline as one of the most landslide-prone regions in the country, with more than 1,500 mapped landslides across a 75-mile stretch. Weather conditions may still lead to temporary closures or traffic delays.

“This reopening is the result of extraordinary teamwork and a shared commitment, led by Governor Newsom, to safely restore Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide,” said Toks Omishakin, secretary of the California Transportation Department, further adding that it marks the early opening of the project while meeting the strict standards of safety at one of the toughest areas. 

To complete the reopening, Caltrans used remotely controlled heavy equipment, reinforced unstable slopes with thousands of steel bars drilled up to 60 feet deep, installed soil-monitoring systems, and removed approximately 6,000 cubic yards of storm debris.

Although Highway 1 has reopened at Regent’s Slide, future weather events may still result in temporary closures or delays.