Today, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo praised the California Department of Transportation’s announcement that Highway 1 at Devil’s Slide will reopen on August 4th, two months earlier than planned.

“Alleluia! This is the news we’ve been waiting for,” Eshoo said. “I saw firsthand the impressive work of CalTrans and this is an extraordinary achievement. Thanks to CalTrans’ monumental efforts, outstanding leadership and dedication to helping our community recover as quickly as possible, my constituents on the Coastside will be granted relief two full months ahead of schedule.”

Highway 1 has been closed at Devil’s Slide since April 2nd, when a landslide caused the rain-saturated hillside to sink toward the ocean, opening large cracks in the highway. The closure has caused massive traffic problems for all Coastside residents, devastated the local economy, and virtually isolated coastal communities south of the closure.

Eshoo successfully pushed for federal funds to assist with disaster response and recovery in the region. In addition to a federal disaster declaration that made FEMA funds available for recovery, the Small Business Administration has made low-interest emergency loans available to businesses that have lost revenue, and the Federal Highway Administration will reimburse CalTrans up to 100% of the costs of repairs to Highway 1.

Eshoo visited the Devil’s Slide site less than one week ago, on Saturday, July 15th, with CalTrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi, Slide Project Manager Keyhan Moghbel, State Senator Jackie Speier and Half Moon Bay Mayor Marina Fraser.

“The reopening of Highway 1 at Devil’s Slide is the single most important step toward helping the San Mateo County Coastside to recover from the recent storms,” Eshoo said. “This is an example of collaboration at its best. State, Federal, County and City government have come together, along with elected officials and community leaders, to literally put the San Mateo County Coastside on the road to recovery.”