One local reporter remarked, "The Beatles wrote the song 'The Long and Winding Road.' Caltrans wrote the book on how to fix it."

The winter of 2006-07 was particularly severe, especially along California’s coastline. Highway 1 in Marin County was badly battered. In some places the roadbed was cracked and buckling. Caltrans made as many temporary repairs as possible, while at the same time planning an extensive repair project.

In late November, the highway was completely closed between Muir Beach and Stinson Beach. In early January, another segment, between Mill Valley and Muir Beach, was also closed. Traffic was diverted to Panoramic Highway and Muir Woods Road.

With the road closed, Caltrans and its contractors got busy building retaining walls known as “soldier pile” walls. Fifty foot long steel beams are driven into the ground. Then heavy timbers are stacked horizontally. At the bottom of the wall, thirty foot beams are driven horizontally into the ground, effectively “bolting” the wall to the hillside.

There was more to come. New and improved drainage systems, diverting the potentially damaging storm water away from the road surface. New guardrails. A fresh coat of asphalt. New striping and lane dividers.

On March 28, 2007, Caltrans Chief Deputy District Director Dan McElhinney told a crowd of invited guests, “The Highway 1 Storm Damage Repair Project is now complete. It was finished on time, and under budget.”

A few moments later, McElhinney and other dignitaries cut the ribbon, officially opening the highway to traffic.