LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE (AP) — A popular Southern California mountain highway is reopening to Angeles National Forest travelers, nearly 18 months after heavy rains washed away major sections of pavement.

State highway officials say Angeles Crest Highway will reopen Friday.

Heavy rain in January 2010 closed a section of the two-lane State Route 2 in the Station fire burn area.

The 66-mile Angeles Crest Highway begins at La Canada Flintridge just north of downtown Los Angeles and continues to the mountain community of Wrightwood.

The Los Angeles Times says the California Department of Transportation had planned to reopen the road in December 2010, but record rainfall that month and again in January 2011 brought down debris and washed out a slope.

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