Scenic stretch of Angeles Crest Highway reopens to the public

Just in time for Labor Day weekend, a 10-mile stretch of scenic Angeles Crest Highway is reopening to the public after being closed for years because of storm damage.

- KATERINA PORTELA

A LONG-CLOSED section of Angeles Crest Highway is reopening — just in time for the Labor Day weekend.

Heavy rains during the back-to-back stormy winters of 2022 and 2023 triggered slope failures and rock slides, and collapsed pavement along the road — also known as Highway 2, which runs alongside Angeles National Forest.

Further damage followed in September 2024, when the Bridge fire burned sections of Angeles National Forest and raged across the highway.

New guardrails, retaining walls, erosion control and drainage systems were put in place to address the destruction.

However, the stretch of highway between Islip Saddle and Vincent Gulch continued to be closed until Friday.

The total cost of repairs was approximately $7.9 million, officials said.