Fort Pitt Tunnel, road tunnel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Fort Pitt Tunnel is an underground road passage beneath Mount Washington in Pittsburgh that connects the West End area with the South Shore neighborhood. The structure consists of two parallel tunnel tubes with two lanes each and is used daily by approximately 107,000 vehicles.
The tunnel was constructed between 1957 and 1959 and opened in 1960 with a ceremonial dedication. It replaced the longer and less efficient routes around Mount Washington that had previously caused traffic congestion.
The tunnel serves as a recognized passage for commuters and visitors entering the city. Many people associate driving through it with arriving in Pittsburgh, especially because of the skyline that appears when exiting.
Vehicles use the two tubes depending on direction of travel, with the tunnels staggered about 30 feet (9 meters) apart. The tunnel features over a thousand lights for illumination and operates under round-the-clock monitoring to ensure driver safety.
A small window opening in the tunnel looks into an office above, and drivers often wonder what lies behind it. The location has even developed local folklore around it, though it is simply a control room.
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