EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The portion of Pacific Coast Highway closed during the devastating Palisades Fire in January will reopen to the public by the end of May, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced over the weekend.

The announcement is another key part in the recovery process over three months after the Palisades Fire burned over 20,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades area.

“The Pacific Coast Highway is a major artery that serves hundreds of thousands of Angelenos and visitors from around the world daily and is crucial to connecting Los Angeles with Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and points north,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement.

PCH is currently only open to residents who live in the fires burn area, essential businesses, and repair crews. Once the reopening is complete at the end of next month, PCH will be open to the public, with one lane in each direction available.

Newsom said crews will work around the clock to reopen the famous California highway “ahead of schedule” and just in time for the summer.

Once the road is reopened, Newsom said the security checkpoints that are currently in place will also be removed. Law enforcement from state and local agencies will remain in place.