By Samuel Strait, Reporter at Large – July 8, 2021 We were told several days ago that the work schedule at Last Chance Grade would change on July 6th to speed up the "emergency repairs", likely cutting off a couple of months to the time line of making the Highway south less of an adventure. So now travelers are faced with four hour closures, 8am to noon and 3pm to 7pm during the week except on Friday when the 3pm to 7pm closure is suspended. All other times expect thirty minute delays. While we are told that this would allow crews longer periods of work on the grade and thereby allow the work to be completed much quicker, it comes at an awkward time of the year when traffic is at its peak. Not only is local traffic and delivery service greatly effected, but the lively hood of tourism will also suffer. It is not as if the problems are in any way recent. CalTrans has reported issues with the road for decades, closures for varying length seemed to have increased dramatically over the last ten years, and yet nothing has been particularly successful despite millions of dollars being expended. The hillside has not changed its composition nor its penchant for sliding into the Pacific Ocean. Economic loss continue to plague this community as a result. The response by the local Transportation Commission is that the current work may cut a year off the development of a more permanent solution. Guess that should tell which of the two remaining choices CalTrans has elected to pursue. Inspite of all the waffling by the powers to be and CalTrans, the current right of way at Last Chance Grade will likely defy any attempt to become a well trained hillside and remain stable. This is a major problem that is unlikely to change no matter what CalTrans magic is applied to the hillside. The State is unlikely to pony up a couple billion dollars, most assuredly much more by the time construction is started, for a tunnel. So when are the local grand vizier's going to get off the dime and start raising a ruckus with Sacramento? It is bad enough that year after year locals cannot count on the road to be anything but a giant headache. What about this year has not someone some where realized that the one thing government might be inclined to assist local citizenry in accomplishing is a safe and secure road south out of the County? Maybe it is too much to ask? It should be clear long ago that recycling old ideas is not a recipe for success and it is time to look for other options with bypassing Last Chance Grade that might actually work. It may break hearts at Environmentalville, but something needs to be done about this moribund project before the hillside vanishes into the Ocean taking the road with it. Four hour closures for the contractor to work might make him happy but does little for those that just want to get somewhere other than sitting in traffic on an unstable hillside.