Lived in Switzerland in 2008-09 when several tunnels in the Zurich area were under construction and some opened, improving commutes a great deal. Small country really investing in its future.
I was always fascinated with the 4 remaining tunnels on the PA Turnpike. The oldest of them were origianlly RR tunnels that were widened and reinforced. Considering the technology and relatively primitive equipment the workers and engineers had at their disposal in the 1930’s it was amazing that those tunnels as well as the original 160 mile stretch of the Turnpike between Carlisle and Irwin was completed under budget and ahead of schedule, incredible for a gov’t project.
This might be the highest Major tunnel in the USA:
The Eisenhower Tunnel, officially the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel approximately 60 mi (97 km) west of Denver, Colorado, United States.
Approximately 11,250 Feet Elevation beneath the Continental Divide.
“Caldecott Tunnel fourth section”
Problem here is that the two original bores were opened in 1937 (as the Broadway Low Level Tunnel) are so narrrow that with today’s cars they are exceedingly slow. So traffic at afternoon commute times is still very much impeded since these two tunnels now handle only eastbound traffic. They are probably seismic issues with them as well.
The seattle tunnel got wood from fill dirt placed there many many years ago (it is along the downtown seattle waterfront) stuck in its boring head which clogged the areas where cooling water was injected (if I remember correctly) and the boring head overheated and destroyed the seal around the boring head..
I believe I am remembering the sequence of events correctly. ....i know it was some wood fibers clogging something up and causing overheating.
Then since it was not in place that was easily accessible to get the boring head out and the repairs were very very extensive....it took forever to get up and running again.
It just in the last few weeks reached its end point and is being cut apart and removed in pieces.
The tunnel will be great, the tolls will not (present day bridge is not tolled) and the waterfront will be opened up to development of high rise condos which will have unimpeded views of Elliot Bay.
The 3 billion will be recouped in a few years by increased property taxes and they will still jam the toll down our throat....imagine a toll to drive basically from the north end of the city to the south end....which is really just ablut 2.5 miles in distance and the tunnel is probably half of that.
A Syracuse native here- I’m roaring with laughter that Syracuse thinks they will get a tunnel. There isn’t much rush hour there as it’s an economic wasteland. The cost of the tunnel would be double the value of all the real estate in Syracuse combined. It’s now just a college town and a tunnel there would be ludicrous.
The whole “we’re against an elevated I-81” thing came up about 20 years ago when libtards claimed the elevated highway separated Brick City (ghetto housing) from the university (thank god).
Good luck, Salt City!
I’m hoping for the completion of the 710 under South Pasadena...
For the record, there was an article in Forbes that graphically portrayed various transportation corridors and means tho indicate those carrying the most freight.
I 81 carries the most freight of any interstate hiway
What I 81 most needs is three or four laning through Virginia