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 ****** 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 *****’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 *****,” 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 ***** 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 ***** 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 ***** 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.
