Nearly 200 drivers test the Presidio of Monterey evacuation route on Saturday
A normally restricted area of the Presidio of Monterey was open to the public Saturday morning.
In the event of an emergency, the Pine Street gate would be open as an alternative route for people to get out of the area.
Normally Highway 68 and Lighthouse Avenue are the only options, but emergency crews and city officials said having this third option could save lives.
The route starts at the Pine Street gate and takes drivers a half-mile through the Presidio to the exit on High Street.
The last time the area was open for an evacuation test was 2009. Then, officials with the Presidio say they had fewer than 30 cars come through, but on Saturday they had 177.
