To be fair, it's been a long wait, and the California Incline is not just any road. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this cliff-hugging trail has been connecting surfers to surf since 1882. Eighty years after its most recent upgrade, the steep artery was definitely due for a remodel. But as anyone who drives, cycles, or even walks between Pacific Coast Highway and Downtown Santa Monica can tell you, the process has been a major disruption—dreaded from the moment it was proposed, postponed repeatedly, then suffered through for 15 traffic-ugly, beach-poor months.

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A car-free view of the Incline, not likely to be seen again in this lifetime

So the news that the project would be finished in time for Labor Day Weekend has received a lot of attention. Moreover, when the beach community decided to kick off the day with pedestrian-only access to the thoroughfare, turn-out was enthusiastic. Popcorn was served, photo-ops with the vintage (normally inaccessible) highway sign were permitted, music played, and local politicians cycled uphill on rideshare bikes. The first cars were held back until 5pm, by which time a collection of good-natured, Instagram-focused motorists had lined up along California Avenue to be first for the moto op.

LA drivers know a photo op when they see one.

And yes, in addition to families enjoying a historic moment in the sunshine, because SoCal, there were also plenty of Californians moments, as every car-proud driver for miles took the 405, got off at the 10, and headed for PCH to drive, with smart phones and selfie-sticks clearly in hand, past scores of laughing policemen and news cameras. They waved, they honked, and they slammed on their brakes the moment they got around the bend and encountered California Incline's first traffic jam in 15 months.

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The first traffic jam, and the first illegal U-turn

As a side note, the pedestrian staircase that connects Palisades Park to the Incline will not be ready for another week or two, but the new Incline has a fully separated section for pedestrians and cyclists that connects to the pedestrian footbridge and ramp to the beach; this entire path is open as of September 1. For anyone who ever braved the old narrow sidewalk along the Incline, with cyclists and pedestrians trying not to nudge each other into oncoming traffic, this is a much-appreciated improvement. And for anyone heading either north or south on Pacific Coast Highway this Labor Day weekend, let the road trip begin!