SACRAMENTO — California’s Highway 1 has officially reopened 18 months after sections of the iconic roadway were closed due to eroded hillsides and mudslides.
The iconic highway reopened fully in late July after a year and a half of roadway closures, which resulted in economic losses for businesses along the iconic corridor, especially in northern San Luis Obispo County as travellers rerouted their trips en masse.
This week’s celebratory caravan – included a historic convoy of cars, from classic vintage, to sleek and modern, to hydrogen-fueled and electric models – highlighted the highway’s historic past connecting California’s northern and southern regions on one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives, says Visit California.
“Driving Highway 1 is a bucket-list experience many travelers dream about, and its closure made headlines around the world,” said Caroline Beteta, Visit California President & CEO. “Many communities along this stretch have suffered while the road has been closed. We’re proud to announce to the world today that Highway 1 is open and better than ever, and the Central Coast is ready to welcome travellers looking for the ultimate California road trip.”
Nearly 200 tourism industry leaders, media from around the world and automotive enthusiasts participated in the Dream Drive, which kicked off at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey with a commemorative lap around the raceway track.
The convoy proceeded down Highway 1, across the new US$54 million, quarter-mile mudslide repair, before ending with a sunset beach barbecue in the shadow of Morro Rock in the coastal town of Morro Bay.
The event was presented by Visit California in partnership with Caltrans, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit SLO CAL, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, AAA, Google Street View, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Avis and Hertz.
Highway 1 has served as a main throughway for Central Coast locals since the 1930s, and as a scenic drive and tourist attraction for visitors from around the world since the route’s more formal incorporation and official numbering in 1964. The highway is designated as an ‘All-American Road’, and at 665 miles (1,070 kilometres) is the longest state route in California.
