The Pacific Coast Highway

 By Bruce Shawkey

State Route 1 is a major north–south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California. Constructed: 1934, it is the longest state route in California, at  656 miles.

The most popular stretch of the highway is between San Francisco and San Diego. I had a chance to travel part of the highway with my late wife in the mid-80s, and have a photo of her posing along the highway, next to her ashes at Roselawn. The Route is in danger these days, due to mid slides, rock slides, and forest fires which spur erosion. It cost millions to keep the route in drivable condition, with funds coming from state and federal sources. Is it worth saving and maintaining?  A recent episode on CBS Sunday Morning answers with a resounding "yes." I agree.

Construction of the Pacific Coast Highway involved blasting through granite, marble, and sandstone with 70,000 pounds of dynamite. Lime was smelted to make concrete. 

The most difficult construction was in the 65-mile section between Spruce Creek and the area north of San Simeon, where over 10 million cubic yards of rock were blasted away. 

The highway has been closed more than 55 times due to landslides. In 2021, the highway was closed after heavy storms caused land to collapse into the sea near Rat Creek. The highway reopened after 56 days of construction and 30 days of debris removal.