Monterey County’s board voted to move forward with a plan to restrict parking around Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. The proposal would ban parking in the immediate vicinity of the bridge for one year, but it is not yet in effect and requires additional reviews. County staff must draft an ordinance and pursue required permits, including approvals from the California Coastal Commission and the Department of Transportation. The county is still determining enforcement methods and costs. Implementation is expected to take weeks or months, with the board reviewing the ordinance at least twice more and allowing additional public comment. Tourism has increased since Highway 1 reopened, with weekend crowds and hotel revenues rising sharply, prompting safety and congestion concerns near the bridge.
"After three years of closures that shuttered different sections of Highway 1, truncating the 100-mile drive between Carmel and Cambria, the area has seen a surge in tourism that officials want to ensure doesn't overrun the area. As of this month, restaurants and retail locations in Big Sur have seen about a 40% surge in weekend crowds compared with 2025 levels, and hotel revenues up 200% from last year during the spring season, according to new data from Caltrans."
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