Overnight Closure Of Devil's Slide Tunnels For Training Exercise Ends Early
PACIFICA (CBS SF) -- The California Department of Transportation completed a mandatory emergency drill in San Mateo County's Tom Lantos (Devil's Slide) tunnels earlier than expected Saturday morning, a spokesman said.
Caltrans spokesman Vince Jacala said the drill started at 10 p.m. Friday and officials expected the drill to last until 4 a.m. Saturday, but they finished at 1:40 a.m.
All lanes of traffic in both directions through the tunnels are currently open.
Caltrans and emergency responders staged the drill to evaluate emergency response times, access how well various emergency responders communicate among themselves and assess how well their equipment works.
Most of all, safety officials staged the multi-car accident to save the lives of drivers and passengers traveling through the tunnels in the future.
"It's for their safety," Jacala said of the public.
The state fire marshal mandates that Caltrans conduct a drill once a year. This is the first time Caltrans has conducted a drill in the Tom Lantos tunnels since the agency opened them to traffic in March 2013, Jacala said.
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