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Devil’s Slide
The Tunnel Begins

 
by April Vargas

It’s been a long time coming, but on September 17, construction began on the openings for the tunnels at Devil’s Slide. Decades of time, energy and commitment from the Committee for Green Foothills and our indomitable San Mateo County Advocate, Lennie Roberts, have made this project a reality. With Lennie at the controls, the historic first cut was made.


Lennie Roberts operates excavator at Devil’s Slide tunnel site

The seemingly endless struggle to defeat a planned bypass freeway through McNee Ranch State Park in Montara took on increasing intensity in 1995 when the road slid and the coastal commute became chaos for nearly six months. Recruiting a group of inspired, talented and resourceful local residents, Lennie put the green back into grassroots campaigning and laid the groundwork for success. 35,000 petition signatures and a 74% countywide election victory led to a permanent, community-based solution for Devil’s Slide that will preserve the natural landscape while providing increased public access to the spectacular San Mateo County coastline. Completion of the project is set for 2010 and a legendary celebration is sure to follow.


from left to right, Chris Thollaug, Shelby and Scot Boyd, April Vargas, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Lennie Roberts, Leonard Woren

Published Fall 2007 in Green Footnotes.

Page last updated December 15, 2007.

 
 
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