Los Angeles Shocker: 2025 Housing Prices Plunge—Is Now the Perfect Time to Buy?

LOS ANGELES — After weeks of detours and gridlock, drivers can once again cruise the iconic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) through the Palisades. State and local officials reopened the stretch between Temescal Canyon Road and Chautauqua Boulevard late Friday evening, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend surge, following rapid debris removal and hillside stabilization efforts triggered by April’s Palisades Fire. Caltrans crews worked around the clock to reinforce scorched slopes with steel netting, install new K-rails, and repave more than two miles of asphalt damaged by fire-fighting equipment. Engineers say the corridor is now safe for full, unrestricted travel, though motorists should expect intermittent overnight lane closures over the next month as contractors finish drainage upgrades. Tourism and business leaders hailed the reopening as a critical boost for coastal commerce. Malibu restaurants report holiday weekend reservations up 40 percent compared with the same period last year, while Santa Monica hotels are projecting near-sold-out occupancy thanks to pent-up demand for beach getaways. “The PCH is our economic lifeline,” said Malibu Chamber of Commerce director Elena Ruiz. “Every extra hour of access translates directly into revenue for small businesses that rely on visitor spending.” Travel analysts at INRIX caution holiday drivers to plan for heavy Friday afternoon congestion at the McClure Tunnel merge and suggest using Topanga Canyon Boulevard as an alternate northbound route after 3 p.m. On Saturday, traffic volumes are expected to peak between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. as day-trippers head toward Zuma Beach. Environmental advocates applaud the rapid reopening but stress long-term vigilance. “Landslides are an ever-present risk when vegetation is burned off the bluffs,” said UCLA geologist Dr. Maya Patel. She recommends that Caltrans expand its new early-warning sensor network along the coastal cliffs to detect ground movement before future storms. Public transit agencies are also gearing up for the influx. Metro has added extra weekend service on the 134 — its express bus linking Downtown Los Angeles to Malibu — and is offering free bike‐rack upgrades on all coastal routes. The agency hopes to ease parking pressure at popular overlooks such as Point Dume, where lots traditionally fill before 9 a.m. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Beaches & Harbors officials confirmed that all county beaches from Will Rogers to Leo Carrillo will be fully staffed with lifeguards through Monday. Rip-current risk remains moderate after recent swells, and swimmers are encouraged to stay near open towers. For Angelenos eager to savor an uninterrupted seaside drive, authorities advise setting out early, topping off fuel before entering canyon sections, and keeping an emergency kit on board. With wildfire season already underway, fire crews are staging additional resources along the Santa Monica Mountains in case hot, dry winds return. The reopened PCH promises not just scenic relief but a symbolic step toward normalcy for communities still recovering from last month’s blaze. As sunseekers stream westward, local officials remind visitors to pack patience, respect newly rebuilt landscapes, and leave no trace on California’s most famous coastal highway.