Stone Avenue Underpass

Stone Avenue Underpass is a concrete bridge from the 1930s that carries two lanes of traffic beneath railroad tracks, linking 6th Street with Toole Avenue. The structure runs through downtown and serves as a key connection for local traffic between these two thoroughfares.

The underpass was built in 1936 as a concrete structure and gained listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This recognition came decades later, acknowledging its role as a Depression-era infrastructure project.

Local residents call this underpass Lake Elmira, a name rooted in a story from the 1930s when flooding turned the passage into a temporary pool. This informal name shows how people have made the structure part of their neighborhood's everyday conversation.

Heavy rains can make passage difficult due to limited drainage, and water can accumulate quickly in the underpass. Drivers should watch for flood warnings and be ready to use an alternate route when storms approach.

In the 1980s, two history enthusiasts placed an unauthorized zinc plaque on a pillar to preserve the Lake Elmira story. This unofficial marker shows how residents took it upon themselves to document a local legend.

Location: Tucson

Inception: 1936

GPS coordinates: 32.22694,-110.97111

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:42