Nearly six months after wildfires erupted in Southern California, closing the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles and burning thousands of acres, the iconic West Coast highway has reopened to the public.

Pacific Coast Highway, which had been largely off-limits to all but residents, first responders and cleanup crews since the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire, reopened to all traffic Friday.

The reopening of an 11-mile stretch of highway will offer greater access to Malibu and Pacific Palisades and marks a key step forward in fire recovery efforts.