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| New Efforts to Make a Scenic California Highway Less Perilous | New Efforts to Make a Scenic California Highway Less Perilous |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| PACIFICA, Calif. — After a half-century of debate, motorists early Tuesday will be able to drive onto a bridge suspended 300 feet above land and through a tunnel dug into a verdant mountain 20 miles south of San Francisco. The federally financed $439 million project skirts the treacherous Devil’s Slide slice of California Highway 1 in one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world. | PACIFICA, Calif. — After a half-century of debate, motorists early Tuesday will be able to drive onto a bridge suspended 300 feet above land and through a tunnel dug into a verdant mountain 20 miles south of San Francisco. The federally financed $439 million project skirts the treacherous Devil’s Slide slice of California Highway 1 in one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world. |
| The two-bore tunnel is the largest of several recent projects — including a viaduct, a tightrope bridge and an oddly shaped rock shed — that have taken creative approaches to improving a perilous highway perched on rocky cliffs along the serpentine, earthquake-prone California coast. | The two-bore tunnel is the largest of several recent projects — including a viaduct, a tightrope bridge and an oddly shaped rock shed — that have taken creative approaches to improving a perilous highway perched on rocky cliffs along the serpentine, earthquake-prone California coast. |
| Compared with Interstate 5, the major inland route that stretches the length of the state, Highway 1 is more of a picturesque meander, cherished by Californians and tourists in convertibles. | Compared with Interstate 5, the major inland route that stretches the length of the state, Highway 1 is more of a picturesque meander, cherished by Californians and tourists in convertibles. |
| Devil’s Slide sits five miles from where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates move past each other at the San Andreas Fault. The earth’s movements, which cause coastal landslides, are also responsible for its beauty. | Devil’s Slide sits five miles from where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates move past each other at the San Andreas Fault. The earth’s movements, which cause coastal landslides, are also responsible for its beauty. |
| The West Coast, unlike the East, “is geologically much younger so that tectonic processes are more active,” said Robert McLaughlin, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey. “Mountains are going up all the time. As a consequence, we have lots of landslides.” | The West Coast, unlike the East, “is geologically much younger so that tectonic processes are more active,” said Robert McLaughlin, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey. “Mountains are going up all the time. As a consequence, we have lots of landslides.” |
| The California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, builds walls and barriers and installs wire mesh draperies — which work, said John Duffy, Caltrans senior engineering geologist, until pickup-truck-size boulders fall. | The California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, builds walls and barriers and installs wire mesh draperies — which work, said John Duffy, Caltrans senior engineering geologist, until pickup-truck-size boulders fall. |
| Since the highway opened in 1937, thanks in part to San Quentin State Prison inmates who did much of the shoveling, landslides at Devil’s Slide have led to periodic closings. | Since the highway opened in 1937, thanks in part to San Quentin State Prison inmates who did much of the shoveling, landslides at Devil’s Slide have led to periodic closings. |
| Since the 1950s, Caltrans has wanted to build a bypass through bucolic mountains and a state park. Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, an environmental activist, said it was to be part of a network of highways “to support large scale housing developments.” Her fear was “If you build it, they will come.” In the 1970s, the Sierra Club and other organizations filed lawsuits. | Since the 1950s, Caltrans has wanted to build a bypass through bucolic mountains and a state park. Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, an environmental activist, said it was to be part of a network of highways “to support large scale housing developments.” Her fear was “If you build it, they will come.” In the 1970s, the Sierra Club and other organizations filed lawsuits. |
| The dispute continued until 1995, when winter rains caused the road to collapse, shutting part of the highway for months. Everyone agreed that something had to be done. | The dispute continued until 1995, when winter rains caused the road to collapse, shutting part of the highway for months. Everyone agreed that something had to be done. |
| Residents proposed a smaller footprint; a tunnel. The state said that was not feasible. | Residents proposed a smaller footprint; a tunnel. The state said that was not feasible. |
| Environmentalists were undeterred. | Environmentalists were undeterred. |
| In 1996, Ms. Kersteen-Tucker and other environmentalists in San Mateo County, which includes Devil’s Slide, placed an initiative on the ballot. Their motto: “Think Tunnel.” It passed with 74 percent of the vote. | In 1996, Ms. Kersteen-Tucker and other environmentalists in San Mateo County, which includes Devil’s Slide, placed an initiative on the ballot. Their motto: “Think Tunnel.” It passed with 74 percent of the vote. |
| Since then, Ms. Kersteen-Tucker said, Caltrans has “worked with us every step of the way.” | Since then, Ms. Kersteen-Tucker said, Caltrans has “worked with us every step of the way.” |
| Because the bridge approach to the tunnel was going to shade a man-made irrigation pond favored by the California red-legged frog, an endangered species, Caltrans, with oversight by state and federal agencies and local environmentalists, dug a new pond and moved the frogs. | Because the bridge approach to the tunnel was going to shade a man-made irrigation pond favored by the California red-legged frog, an endangered species, Caltrans, with oversight by state and federal agencies and local environmentalists, dug a new pond and moved the frogs. |
| Federal Highway Administration emergency funds paid for the tunnel, which is named for the man who secured initial financing —Tom Lantos, a congressman who died in 2008 — but which many residents call “the people’s tunnel.” | |
| For Ms. Kersteen-Tucker, it has been a long haul. She remembers having her daughter “on my hip while talking to a reporter” in 1996. On Monday, her daughter, now 22, will drive through the tunnel in a parade. | For Ms. Kersteen-Tucker, it has been a long haul. She remembers having her daughter “on my hip while talking to a reporter” in 1996. On Monday, her daughter, now 22, will drive through the tunnel in a parade. |
| Other projects will be completed with less fanfare. | Other projects will be completed with less fanfare. |
| About 130 miles south of San Francisco, close to the Bixby Creek Bridge, one lane of Highway 1 washed away two years ago. Construction crews are building the $11 million Rocky Creek Viaduct, a bridge over land, to avoid slides. | About 130 miles south of San Francisco, close to the Bixby Creek Bridge, one lane of Highway 1 washed away two years ago. Construction crews are building the $11 million Rocky Creek Viaduct, a bridge over land, to avoid slides. |
| An hour’s drive south of there, at Pitkins Curve in a section aptly called Rain Rocks, Caltrans used to regularly shove fallen rocks into the ocean, said David Rasmussen, a Caltrans project manager. | An hour’s drive south of there, at Pitkins Curve in a section aptly called Rain Rocks, Caltrans used to regularly shove fallen rocks into the ocean, said David Rasmussen, a Caltrans project manager. |
| After the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was created in 1992, Caltrans negotiated new standards, agreeing not to toss rocks and boulders overboard. Instead, drivers trucked them away, a costly effort, Mr. Rasmussen said. | After the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was created in 1992, Caltrans negotiated new standards, agreeing not to toss rocks and boulders overboard. Instead, drivers trucked them away, a costly effort, Mr. Rasmussen said. |
| Public meetings were attended by 60 “stakeholders,” Mr. Duffy said, including the Sierra Club, the California Coastal Commission, local restaurants and other businesses, and individuals representing groups concerned with protecting indigenous flowers, condors and sea otters. | Public meetings were attended by 60 “stakeholders,” Mr. Duffy said, including the Sierra Club, the California Coastal Commission, local restaurants and other businesses, and individuals representing groups concerned with protecting indigenous flowers, condors and sea otters. |
| Attendees suggested that the state consider a rock shed, which Mr. Duffy likened to an awning, shielding drivers from falling rock. | Attendees suggested that the state consider a rock shed, which Mr. Duffy likened to an awning, shielding drivers from falling rock. |
| Contractors are now completing a tightrope of a bridge that swings over the ocean, leaving the old highway to capture falling rocks. Adjacent to it, they are building the inelegantly named Rock Shed. | Contractors are now completing a tightrope of a bridge that swings over the ocean, leaving the old highway to capture falling rocks. Adjacent to it, they are building the inelegantly named Rock Shed. |
| With a slanting roof, the Rock Shed will allow tumbling rocks to continue their descent into the ocean. | With a slanting roof, the Rock Shed will allow tumbling rocks to continue their descent into the ocean. |
| Guided by residents, Caltrans designed an impressive-looking entry with faux keystone and real arches that resemble a Roman aqueduct. | Guided by residents, Caltrans designed an impressive-looking entry with faux keystone and real arches that resemble a Roman aqueduct. |
| “California’s coastline is constantly changing and continually presents us with challenges,” said Malcolm Dougherty, the director of Caltrans. “Through hard work and determination, we continue to keep this scenic highway open.” | “California’s coastline is constantly changing and continually presents us with challenges,” said Malcolm Dougherty, the director of Caltrans. “Through hard work and determination, we continue to keep this scenic highway open.” |
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: March 24, 2013 | Correction: March 24, 2013 |
An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect name for a marine sanctuary that was created in 1992. It is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, not the National Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. | An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect name for a marine sanctuary that was created in 1992. It is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, not the National Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. |