On Jan. 14, Caltrans reopened the 6.8 mile stretch of highway closed at Regent’s Slide, restoring uninterrupted travel along the Big Sur coast. Gavin Newsom and Caltrans officials describe the reopening as the restoration of a “vital economic lifeline” for communities that were cut off from the full Big Sur route. “Cambria has become a destination because tourists could come this far, and they wanted to get a little taste of the Big Sur coast,” Linn said. The organization emphasized that visitors could still access the Big Sur experience from south of Ragged Point. Belsanti said the highway reopening has generated excitement among residents and visitors.