All sections of PCH to reopen Sunday — with limits — in wake of Palisades fire

With cleanup and restoration work still ongoing in the wake of the Palisades fire, all areas of Pacific Coast Highway will nonetheless reopen to essential traffic beginning Sunday, though with only one lane open in each direction — and with reduced speeds in effect, it was announced Friday.

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath made the announcement Friday, calling the reopening “an important step forward in Los Angeles County’s recovery from the devastating Palisades fire.”

The reopening will go into effect at 8 a.m. Sunday for all sections of PCH, Horvath’s office said.

“Los Angeles County has worked diligently and with all deliberate speed to reopen PCH in a way that is safe and allows our residents, businesses, workers, and students to more easily navigate our coastal communities,” Horvath said in a statement. “This reopening is a step forward in our recovery for communities that endured both the Palisades and Franklin fires.”

However, Horvath also warned that “it’s important that we set expectations” and that “this will not be the same PCH as before the fires.”

“Traffic will be limited to one lane at reduced speeds to allow the essential repair and utility work to continue,” she said.

“Thank you to our sheriff’s department and Caltrans for their work to put appropriate safety and traffic control measures in place to make this reopening possible. We especially want to thank Gov. Gavin Newsom for his support in this effort.”

The one lane in each direction and reduced speeds will allow cleanup and utility repairs to continue, the supervisor’s office said.

“Essential traffic ONLY is strongly encouraged,” Horvath’s statement said.

She added that the reopening is a joint effort between the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans.

Rain is in the forecast for next week, and the roadway will be monitored for hazards by the L.A. County Public Works Department, the sheriff’s department and Caltrans, Horvath’s office said.

Updates on road closures countywide can be found at pw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures.