LOS ANGELES — In a major post-fire milestone Friday, Pacific Coast Highway reopened to traffic for the first time since the Palisades fire incinerated homes and businesses along the oceanfront in January.

The reopening of an 11-mile stretch of PCH will offer greater access to Malibu and Pacific Palisades and may ease commutes for those trying to get to Los Angeles from Ventura County and the west Valley.

The reopening also marks a key step forward in recovery efforts in the Palisades, officials said.

“The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step in Malibu’s ongoing recovery from the recent wildfires. While significant challenges remain, this development helps restore limited access for residents and travelers along the coast,” Malibu Mayor Mayor Marianne Riggins said in a statement.

At 8 a.m. Friday, authorities opened two lanes of traffic in both directions. However, officials urged drivers to be cautious since road crews are still doing work in the area. The speed limit has been reduced to 25 mph and traffic signals at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Big Rock Drive, La Costa Beach Club and Carbon Canyon Road are set for flashing red, meaning drivers will have to stop.

While much of the highway’s traffic was steady for the morning commute, traffic lights and stop signs created bottlenecks in some areas. Debris removal crews and construction workers labored alongside the highway, cleaning and completing other roadwork as cars streamed by.

Cars and construction vehicles were driving slowly along the scenic stretch of highway just a few feet from Felicia Daffara’s home and office Friday morning. The 50-year-old was out watching the reopening and marveling at the the highway once again bustling after a months-long closure.

She pointed to a white house with an octopus design across the highway that’s expected to be leveled on Friday as fire cleanup continues.

A moment later, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol car flashed its lights pull over a motorist. While most drivers were abiding by the 25 mph speed limit several were spotted trying to race through calmer sections of the highway.

“Speed isn’t going to be a problem,” Daffara said. “I saw a woman who was swerving in between lanes get tickets right in front our office.”

A Times reporter on the highway saw at least three motorists being pulled over in less than an hour, and sheriffs vehicles were parked at least every mile along the highway, while others patrolled the highway.

Traffic is expected to be very heavy this Memorial Day weekend as people head to area beaches. Motorists are also likely to encounter a heavy security presence in neighborhoods as authorities continue to restrict access into the burn areas.

The Malibu City Council on Wednesday approved a contract with a private security firm to provide armed patrols to neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades and Franklin fires in anticipation of the highway reopening.

Access to the Palisades will remain restricted to residents, business owners, employees and contractors. The number of Los Angeles Police Department checkpoints into the neighborhoods will increase from five to 16 and the California Highway Patrol will continue patrolling the area, according to the city.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last month that the scenic highway would reopen by the end of May, though he did not provide a specific date at the time.

“In California, we get stuff done, period,” Newsom said in a statement Thursday. “We’re opening the PCH back up early, with more lanes before Angelenos hit the road this Memorial Day. We are able to do this thanks to the tireless work of hundreds of construction and road crews and with help from our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers.”

At Colony House Liquor and Gifts, in Malibu, an employee at the cash register Friday morning said he doesn’t mind the highway reopening, but he feels uneasy about the people who are just driving through to see what’s left of the community after the fires.

“I get it, people want to see but there’s nothing to look at,” said the man, who identified himself only as J.H.

He’s looking forward to hopefully seeing more customers as people head to the beach.

“But it isn’t the same, I don’t know when or if Malibu will ever be the same,” he said.

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