Highway 1 collapse: Newsom says repairs in Big Sur will be done by Memorial Day weekend

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that state officials plan to reopen the portion of Highway 1 near Big Sur that collapsed in late March by Memorial Day weekend. 

A powerful storm washed away a section of the highway on March 30 in Monterey County, briefly stranding about 1,600 people trapped on either side of the chasm that opened up in the roadway. 

To hasten the repairs, Newsom said he would sign an emergency proclamation that would secure around $100 million in federal funding for Highway 1 and roadways in 18 California counties affected by recent storms. 

“Storms in March caused significant damage to critical parts of our transportation infrastructure — impacting not only traffic for our communities, but also hurting small businesses and workers,” Newsom said in a statement.

“The state is working overtime to complete repairs as safely and as quickly as possible and I have signed a state of emergency proclamation, which will help ensure that we receive critical federal funding to help impacted communities bounce back from these devastating storms,” the governor continued.

In the days after Highway 1 collapsed, businesses in Big Sur said they were losing an estimated $1 million a day due to restricted travel conditions. Since the collapse, twice-daily convoys have ferried people around the washed-out portion of the highway. 

State officials said Friday that once the edge of the roadway is stabilized, crews would install a temporary traffic signal and “open Highway 1 to unrestricted traffic under alternating one-way traffic control.” 

Caltrans expected to complete the work by May 25, Newsom’s office said. 

Reach Dominic Fracassa: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com