The Liberty Tunnels (also known as the Liberty Tubes ) are a pair of tunnels located in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , United States that allow motorists to travel between the South Hills of Pittsburgh and the city, beneath Mt. Washington . The tunnels were vital in the expansion of the South Hills suburbs by providing a direct route to the city, eliminating the time-consuming task of navigating around or over Mt. Washington and its inclines. Opening in 1924, the Liberty Tunnels are the longest automobile tunnel in the City of Pittsburgh.
22-498: 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 (1.2 m) sidewalk. The sidewalks, being minimally used and in disrepair, were removed during
44-589: 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. Booth and Flinn , Ltd. were awarded the contract to build the new tunnels in January 1919, and construction began shortly thereafter. On May 11, 1922, the boring of the tunnels was complete and in January 1924, the $ 6 million ($ 107 million in present dollars) Liberty Tunnels were opened to traffic. However,
66-537: A link to the South Hills . The bridge opened on March 27, 1928, following a 5-mile (8.0 km) vehicle parade from the southern suburbs of the city, which crossed the Smithfield Street Bridge and proceeded through downtown before ending at the southern end of the new bridge. It was designed by George S. Richardson and cost $ 3,456,000 to build. It is 2663' 3/16" long, though the main span
88-407: A major component necessary to the project: ventilation. There was not yet a ventilation system when the tunnels opened, but authorities decided the flow of traffic would allow for a natural draft of ventilation. On May 10, 1924, a traffic jam occurred due to a Pittsburgh Street Railway Company strike, which caused vehicles to be left stopped and idling in the tunnels. Several motorists passed out from
110-416: A new bridge, which was to become the Liberty Bridge. Booth and Flinn , Ltd. were awarded the contract to build the new tunnels in January 1919, and construction began shortly thereafter. On May 11, 1922, the boring of the tunnels was complete and in January 1924, the $ 6 million ($ 107 million in present dollars ) Liberty Tunnels were opened to traffic. However, the tunnels were not yet complete and lacked
132-573: A renovation in the 1970s in order to widen and increase the height of the traffic lanes. 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,
154-461: 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
176-582: Is 448' and the water clearance is 44.4'. It was renovated in 1982 by the Dick Corporation, at a cost of $ 32 million. On September 2, 2016, the Liberty Bridge was closed for 24 days, following a fire during construction work on the bridge. Intense heat from burning plastic piping had caused a 30-foot (9 m) steel beam (compression chord) to buckle. The bridge reopened to weight-limited traffic on September 26, and full traffic on September 30. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation assessed
198-496: The Fort Pitt 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
220-706: The Liberty Tunnels and the South Hills neighborhoods beyond. It crosses the Monongahela River and intersects Interstate 579 (the Crosstown Boulevard) at its northern terminus. It was designed by George S. Richardson and cost $ 3,456,000 to build. The Liberty Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge and was created as the missing link between downtown Pittsburgh and the Liberty Tunnel , which had been built four years earlier in 1924 as
242-499: The South Hills of Pittsburgh and the city, beneath Mt. Washington . The tunnels were vital in the expansion of the South Hills suburbs by providing a direct route to the city, eliminating the time-consuming task of navigating around or over Mt. Washington and its inclines. Opening in 1924, the Liberty Tunnels are the longest automobile tunnel in the City of Pittsburgh. The tunnels were designed by Amos D. Neeld , who would also supervise
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#1732782542608264-417: 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 (1.2 m) sidewalk. The sidewalks, being minimally used and in disrepair, were removed during a renovation in the 1970s in order to widen and increase
286-411: 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 (61 m) vertical shafts
308-520: The height of the traffic lanes. 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 Fort Pitt Tunnels were constructed very near this proposed area. Similarly, other residents wanted tunnels to be built in
330-597: The longest tunnels at that time built exclusively for automobiles. Nevertheless, they were not the first tunnel in the United States built exclusively for automobiles. A previous automobile tunnel, the Hill Street Tunnel in Los Angeles, was built 12 years earlier. Liberty Bridge (Pittsburgh) The Liberty Bridge , which was completed in 1928, connects downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , to
352-477: 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. In 1941 it became the first tunnel in the world to provide AM radio reception throughout. Since August 1987 the tunnels have provided cellular phone reception. As the Heinz History Center points out, the Liberty Tunnels were
374-402: 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. In 1941 it became the first tunnel in the world to provide AM radio reception throughout. Since August 1987 the tunnels have provided cellular phone reception. As the Heinz History Center points out, the Liberty Tunnels were
396-405: The tunnels were not yet complete and lacked a major component necessary to the project: ventilation. There was not yet a ventilation system when the tunnels opened, but authorities decided the flow of traffic would allow for a natural draft of ventilation. On May 10, 1924, a traffic jam occurred due to a Pittsburgh Street Railway Company strike, which caused vehicles to be left stopped and idling in
418-456: The tunnels. Several 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 (61 m) vertical shafts
440-657: The value of the damages at over $ 3 million. This article about a bridge in Pennsylvania is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a building or structure in Pittsburgh is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Liberty Tunnel The Liberty Tunnels (also known as the Liberty Tubes ) are a pair of tunnels located in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , United States that allow motorists to travel between
462-405: 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 (34 m) above the plant. After the ventilation system was put into service, the traffic restrictions were lifted. Following the completion of the Liberty Tunnels, the Liberty Bridge was completed and linked to
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#1732782542608484-405: 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 (34 m) above the plant. After the ventilation system was put into service, the traffic restrictions were lifted. Following the completion of the Liberty Tunnels, the Liberty Bridge was completed and linked to
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