Devil's Slide tunnel marks milestone

Caltrans will punch through one of two Devil's Slide tunnels Friday, four weeks ahead of schedule.

The southbound tunnel should be punched through about a week later, said Bob Haus, spokesman for Caltrans.

The north portal of the northbound Devil's Slide Tunnel will be the first to punch through, three years after ground was broken on the project.

The punch through marks the third major milestone in the project after the groundbreaking and bridge construction completion that connects Pacifica with the two tunnels, Haus said. The next milestone will be when the tunnel opens in early 2012, he said.

Crews have bored into San Pedro Mountain to link Pacifica to the midcoast with four lanes of traffic.

It is a public works project that will reach beyond $340 million in costs and be named after Tom Lantos, the late San Mateo congressman who secured $175 million in federal funds for the bypass. Lantos had worked for three decades to bring the project to light and lived long enough to dedicate the two tunnels before he died in early 2008 at the age of 80.

Caltrans will hold a special dedication Friday with state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, and San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon on hand.

"I am excited to see the completion of this project within reach. I was proud to push legislation that transferred the land to allow for the construction of the tunnel and I was prouder still to author the bill to name this landmark the Tom Lantos Tunnel. I am looking forward to the day we open the Lantos Tunnel and celebrate this environmental and public safety milestone," said Yee.

The tons of dirt and rock pulled from the tunnel are being used to reshape the mountain in a delicate process monitored by at least six biologists to ensure the safety of the California red-legged frog, a protected species, and other wildlife including a family of peregrine falcons.

Crews have even created new paths on the mountain so Shamrock Ranch can continue to conduct horse rides that reveal incredible views of the sheer cliffs that the current Devil's Slide sits atop.

When the tunnels open, the current Devil's Slide will be converted to coastal trails.

"It will be the most magnificent coastal trail in the state," said Gordon. "When this is done there will be a safe, secure, reliable route on the San Mateo County coast."

The project is on schedule, Haus said.

"There is still a lot of work to do," Haus said.