Thursday, April 11, 2013

Devil's Slide and the Tunnels Improvement


Pacifica Tribune/Horace Hinshaw, Sports Editor, 4/9/13.  "Tunnel vision."
Horace Hinshaw and Jane Northrop at the tunnel opening ceremony

"In 1969 when my wife, Marian, and I were looking to buy our first home we drove down the coast highway from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay. We were informed that houses were reasonably inexpensive in that area.  ....   We were serious about buying a home as our San Francisco apartment rent was being increased, so we thought 'why not buy a house'. Again I had a concern about the road to Half Moon Bay.
....  I asked the real estate agents about Devil's Slide and the future of the highway. They told me that within a few years a new bypass will be built and traffic will flow freely through the hilly terrain down to Half Moon Bay and coastside communities. That was 44 years ago!  

....  On the opening day of the tunnel all the invited guests to the ceremony and media were asked to meet at the Half Moon Bay Airport for transportation by bus to the south tunnel. I joined with Tribune reporter Jane Northrop and hopped aboard one of the buses. It was cold and overcast when we arrived at 9:45 a.m.

....   I've heard since the tunnel opened comments about not being able to see the coastline view. Pocket those thoughts because perhaps in a year or two we will have a beautiful park and biking area to visit. You will be able to jump aboard the Devil's Slide Ride shuttle and be dropped off at supposedly a bus stop at the tunnel entrance. I'm not privy to the plans for the park, but it sure would be nice to have a visitor's center on the property and even a small restaurant over looking the ocean. The park should certainly boost tourism in our community.  If you haven't driven through the tunnel, do so soon."   Read article.   Note:  Photograph by Tom Piccolotti from the article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

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