Coastal Commission Blocks Devil's Slide Tunnel

Progress on the $275 million, 4,000-foot twin-bore tunnel approved by San Mateo County voters way back in 1996, and supposed to begin construction this fall, has been blocked by the California Coastal Commission over the transfer of a small parcel of land.

Approved by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in May, the Commission filed an appeal in late July to block the project. Caltrans' promise to transfer the Martini Creek Devil's Slide property to California State Parks after construction is completed is not good enough—they want the transfer written into law before giving their final blessing to the project.

More details can be found in this article from the San Mateo Times: Devil's Slide tunnel tossed a curve ball. State Senator Bryon Sher is the author of the legislation, SB 792.

—by Peter Sheerin at 10:44 PM {PermaLink}