Liberty Tunnel

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Liberty Tunnels
Liberty Tunnels
Traffic flowing through the Liberty Tunnels
Carries 4 lanes of roadway
Locale Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;

Mt. Washnigton
Design Twin Horseshoe Profile Tunnels
Total length 5,889 feet
Opening date 1924

The Liberty Tunnels, also known as the Liberty Tubes, are a pair of tunnels located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that allow motorists to travel from the South Hills of Pittsburgh to the city, (and vice versa), through Mt. Washington. The tunnels were vital in the expansion of the South Hills suburbs by giving citizens a direct route to the city, eliminating the time-consuming task of navigating around or over Mt. Washington and its inclines.

Contents

[edit] Design

The Liberty Tunnels were designed to provide a more direct route between the South Hills of Pittsburgh and the city. The tunnels were designed by Amos D. Neeld, who would also supervise the construction of the adjoining Liberty Bridge, which gives travelers a way to cross the Monongahela River after passing through the tunnels. The design was two vertical wall horseshoe profile tunnels, each consisting of two lanes of traffic and a 4-ft sidewalk. The sidewalks were removed during a renovation in the 1970’s after being long abandoned.

[edit] Proposed Alternatives

Prior to the construction of the Liberty Tunnels, many other projects were proposed. One plan, from engineer W.M. Donley, did not involve constructing tunnels, but called for a deep cut through the mountain. This would eliminate the need for a tunnel, but the pitch was rejected. Many residents wanted tunnels to be built in Shalerville. Later in 1959, the Squirrel Hill Tunnels were constructed very near this proposed area. Similarly, other residents wanted tunnels to be built in a valley behind Mt. Washington that led to Dormont and Mt. Lebanon. They would follow a low line to exit at Saw Mill Run. This was known as the Bell Tavern plan, which was modified to create the Liberty Tunnels. The final plan for the tunnels shared the southern Bell Tavern portal, but followed a higher line to emerge on the north face of Mt. Washington. This plan required the construction of a new bridge, which was to become the Liberty Bridge.

[edit] Construction

Booth and Flinn, Ltd. were awarded the contract to build the new tunnels in January 1919, and construction began shortly thereafter. By 1922, the boring of the tunnels was complete and in January 1924, the Liberty Tunnels were opened to traffic. However, the tunnels were not yet complete and lacked a major component necessary to the project: ventilation.

[edit] Ventilation

There was not yet a ventilation system and the traffic flow through the tunnels exceeded predicted numbers. During rush hour traffic, some motorists passed out from the fumes emitted from the exhaust of the congested vehicles. For the safety of motorists, the number of vehicles permitted through the tunnels was regulated until a ventilation system was installed.

With help from the U.S Bureau of Mines, tunnel engineers designed a system to ventilate the tunnels to accommodate the high traffic flow. In 1928, construction of four 200-foot vertical shafts was completed to continuously provide fresh air to the tunnels. A plant located on top on the mountain was constructed to pump the fresh air through the shafts, which also tower 110 ft above the plant. After the ventilation system was put into service, the traffic restrictions were lifted.

[edit] Liberty Bridge

Following the completion of the Liberty Tunnels, the Liberty Bridge was completed and linked to the tunnels on March 27, 1928. The bridge and tunnel combination gave motorists and pedestrians a direct route to the city without traveling over or around Mt. Washington.

[edit] Dimensions and Specs

Pittsburgh seen through the northern end of the Liberty Tunnels in 1974.
Pittsburgh seen through the northern end of the Liberty Tunnels in 1974.
  • 5,889 ft in length
  • Twin tunnels (1 inbound, 1 outbound)
  • 2 lanes in each tunnel
  • Vertical wall horseshoe profile
  • 11 cross passages (Liberty Tunnels)
  • 14 ft 6 in posted vertical clearance (Liberty Tunnels)
  • Each tunnel is 28.6 ft wide and 20.75 ft high to arch (Liberty Tunnels)
  • Floor slopes upward 0.329 percent grade to Saw Mill Run portal 20 ft higher (Liberty Tunnels)
  • Opened in 1924
  • Between:
    • Liberty Bridge [SR3096]; P. J. McArdle Roadway (Mt. Washington Roadway)
    • Saw Mill Run Blvd [PA51]; West Liberty Blvd [SR3096] (Liberty Tunnels)

[edit] References

  1. Liberty Tunnels. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2008, from http://pghbridges.com/pittsburghW/0584-4474/liberty_tun.html
  2. The Liberty Tunnels and Bridge: The Gateway to the South Hills. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2008, from http://www.spdconline.org/history/Gallery/Tunnels.html
  3. Workmaster, Wallace F. Mt. Lebanon History and Information. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2008, from http://www.mtlebanon.org/index.asp?NID=34

[edit] External Links


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