It’s been a long time coming. The first highway tunnels to open in California in nearly fifty years are about ready for motorists.
Two mile-long, state-of-the-art tunnels will offer a new route to what has been a stunning, cliffhanger of a drive along Highway 1 above Northern California’s coast. The passage, between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, has been the site of so many landslides, prolonged closures and deadly car accidents that it earned the name, “Devil’s Slide.”
The new tunnel consists of two bores each about 4,200 feet long with one lane and wide shoulder. The cutting edge tunnels have been a major engineering project and will feature jet-powered exhaust fans and carbon monoxide sensors. That’s much more high-tech than Cal Trans’ last tunnel, the third bore of the Caldecott Tunnel, which opened in 1964.
After five decades of political and environmental roadblocks, the 439-million dollar federally funded project is finished. Its opening will roll out over two days. Opening ceremonies for the twin tunnels and accompanying bridges is Monday, March 25th. The tunnels will be ready for commuters the following morning. The old Devil’s Slide stretch of California coastline will soon open up to hikers and bike riders.