Washington Street Tunnel (Chicago)

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The Washington Street Tunnel was the first traffic tunnel under the Chicago River. J.L. Lake was awarded the contract to construct the tunnel in July 1867 and its construction was completed January 1, 1869.

This tunnel was 1605 feet long and cost $517,000.

In the 1880's the cable car companies took over the tunnel and it was used for cable car service until 1906.

The reversing of the Chicago River exposed the tunnel in 1900 and a wider, deeper replacement was built under the original. It opened to electric streetcar service in 1911–1912.

The Washington Street Tunnel was in use until 1953.