Big Walker Mountain Tunnel
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The Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, a few miles south of both the town of Bland, Virginia, and a segment of the Appalachian Trail, carries Interstate 77 through/under Big Walker Mountain. It is located at .
The tunnel is 4,229 feet (1,288 m) long. The tunnel is about 20 miles (32 km) south of its longer cousin, the East River Mountain Tunnel. Both facilities share an unusual feature for vehicular tunnels in the United States—lane changes inside the tunnel are freely allowed.
Preliminary engineering studies for the project were made by Brokenborough & Watkins, consulting engineers of Richmond, Virginia, and the final design of the roadway and tunnel was by Singstad & Kehart, consulting engineers of New York City.
[edit] Lane Restriction Controversy
In 2006, the Virginia Department of Transportation began a rehabilitation project that involves lane closures during the daytime. When the lanes are closed, wide loads over 12 feet wide are prohibited from using the tunnel. On June 21, 2006, West Virginia Congressman Nick Rahall asked that the ban be lifted, citing needs of West Virginia's manufactured housing industry. Rahall claimed that the ban raises issues arising under the commerce and takings clauses of the Constitution of the United States.
