The Fort Pitt Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel under Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It connects the West End region on the southwest side to the South Shore neighborhood on the northeast side. The adjoining Fort Pitt Bridge on the northeast end connects to Downtown Pittsburgh. The tunnel carries traffic on Interstate 376 (I-376),[a]U.S. Route 22 (US 22), US 30, and US 19 Truck. The structure comprises two bores, each with two lanes of traffic. The inbound tunnel flows onto the top deck of the double-deck Fort Pitt Bridge, opposite traffic from the lower deck using the outbound tunnel. To accommodate the bridge, the northeast portals of the parallel tunnels are vertically staggered by 30 feet. The tunnel opened in September 1960, a year after the Fort Pitt Bridge.[1]
Before entering the southwest end of the inbound tunnel, travelers see a commonplace view of Southwestern Pennsylvania's hills, but at the northeast end, travelers emerge to a panorama of Downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding skyline. The view was cited by The New York Times as "the best way to enter an American city".[2] The vantage was the inspiration for the news opening on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV for several years in the 1980s and 1990s,[3] and is referenced in Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The Fort Pitt Tunnel is the third-longest automobile tunnel in Pittsburgh, following the Liberty Tunnels and the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. It is one of four major tunnels[b] passing beneath Mount Washington, including the Liberty Tunnels and the Wabash Tunnel for automobiles, and the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel for public transportation.[4]
Before the existence of the Fort Pitt Tunnels (as well as the Penn Lincoln Parkway and West End Bypass), South Hills commuters travelled around the Banksville Circle, which was the northern terminus of Banksville Road and western terminus of Saw Mill Run Blvd at the time. On July 11, 1954, contracts were awarded for the basic design of the Fort Pitt Tunnels. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Fort Pitt tunnel was held April 17, 1957 and drilling began August 28 of the same year. In April 1960 construction on the tunnels was complete and they opened for the first time at 11 a.m. on September 1, 1960, with a dedication ceremony on the southwestern portal by Governor Lawrence, Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Park H. Martin and Pittsburgh Mayor Joseph M. Barr followed by a "christening" of the tunnels in which the Governor led a caravan of antique cars through. The tunnel cost $17 million (equivalent to $168 million in 2022[5]).[6][1][7][8]
On Thursday, May 31, 2007, a bomb threat shut down the Fort Pitt Tunnel along with the Liberty and Squirrel Hill tunnels, causing a major traffic jam.[9]
The tunnel provided AM reception in 1960, but due to design repairs it was discontinued until 1986. It was improved to cover the entire tunnel with strong reception in March 1997.[10] Since August 1987, the tunnels have provided cellular phone reception.[11] With the help of Carnegie Mellon University graduate students, the tunnel has provided FM reception since July 2005 as well as having its AM signals upgraded at that time. In 2015, the original flat ceiling was removed due to its poor condition.[12]
^ abcdLisa, Wardle (April 17, 2017). "Vintage photos of Fort Pitt Tunnel construction, which broke ground in 1957". Penn Live. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
^Goldberger, Paul (January 3, 1988). "ARCHITECTURE VIEW; A Tempered Skyline Strengthens a City of Steel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
^KDKA 5PM Anchor Rejoin (MAY 99) 10 Years Ago (Television production). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: KDKA-TV. May 1990. Retrieved February 23, 2018 – via YouTube.[dead YouTube link]
^Grata, Joe (February 2016). "Underground Pittsburgh: Explore our City of Tunnels". Pittsburgh Magazine.
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
^"The new bridge opens". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 19, 1959. p. 12. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^Eskey, Kenneth (September 1, 1960). "New Tunnel Jams Bridge". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Google News.
^ abcCridlebaugh, Bruce S. (September 10, 2001). "Fort Pitt Tunnel". Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 8, 2007.[self-published source]
^Ayad, Moustafa; Majors, Dan (June 1, 2007). "Bomb Threats Close Major Tunnels During downpour, Snarling Traffic Throughout City". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
^Grata, Joe (April 9, 1997). "Radio Reception in Parkway Tunnels Is Music to the Ears". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1, A2. Retrieved February 10, 2016 – via Google News.
^Bennett, Marcia (September 28, 1987). "Now It's Phones that Do Walking". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 23. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Google News.
^Ritchie, Jim (July 30, 2005). "Drivers No Longer Lo ..#!$.. adio Reception in Tunnels" (PDF). Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
^Anya Sostek (September 28, 2012). "The 'Perks' Fort Pitt Tunnel stunt: Don't try it". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
External links
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fort, pitt, tunnel, vehicular, tunnel, under, mount, washington, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, connects, west, region, southwest, side, south, shore, neighborhood, northeast, side, adjoining, fort, pitt, bridge, northeast, connects, downtown, pittsburgh, tunnel, c. The Fort Pitt Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel under Mount Washington in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania It connects the West End region on the southwest side to the South Shore neighborhood on the northeast side The adjoining Fort Pitt Bridge on the northeast end connects to Downtown Pittsburgh The tunnel carries traffic on Interstate 376 I 376 a U S Route 22 US 22 US 30 and US 19 Truck The structure comprises two bores each with two lanes of traffic The inbound tunnel flows onto the top deck of the double deck Fort Pitt Bridge opposite traffic from the lower deck using the outbound tunnel To accommodate the bridge the northeast portals of the parallel tunnels are vertically staggered by 30 feet The tunnel opened in September 1960 a year after the Fort Pitt Bridge 1 Fort Pitt TunnelNortheast Portal of Fort Pitt TunnelOverviewLocationPittsburgh PennsylvaniaCoordinates763 4 1 870 00 west portal 763 4 1 912 25 east portalRouteI 376 US 19 Truck US 22 US 30 Parkway West StartI 376 Fort Pitt BridgeEndUS 19OperationWork begunAugust 28 1957ConstructedTwin bore circular roof with an exposed curved ceiling concrete with ceramic tile liningOpenedSeptember 1 1960OwnerPennDOTOperatorPennDOTTrafficAutomobileTollnoneVehicles per day107 000TechnicalDesign engineerMichael Baker Jr 1 Length3 614 feet 1 102 m No of lanes4Operating speed55 mph 89 km h Tunnel clearance13 5 feet 4 1 m Width28 feet 8 5 m Grade2 5 east to west Building detailsDesign and constructionArchitect s Joseph Bontempo 1 Before entering the southwest end of the inbound tunnel travelers see a commonplace view of Southwestern Pennsylvania s hills but at the northeast end travelers emerge to a panorama of Downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding skyline The view was cited by The New York Times as the best way to enter an American city 2 The vantage was the inspiration for the news opening on Pittsburgh s KDKA TV for several years in the 1980s and 1990s 3 and is referenced in Stephen Chbosky s novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower The Fort Pitt Tunnel is the third longest automobile tunnel in Pittsburgh following the Liberty Tunnels and the Squirrel Hill Tunnel It is one of four major tunnels b passing beneath Mount Washington including the Liberty Tunnels and the Wabash Tunnel for automobiles and the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel for public transportation 4 Contents 1 History 2 Dimensions and specifications 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditBefore the existence of the Fort Pitt Tunnels as well as the Penn Lincoln Parkway and West End Bypass South Hills commuters travelled around the Banksville Circle which was the northern terminus of Banksville Road and western terminus of Saw Mill Run Blvd at the time On July 11 1954 contracts were awarded for the basic design of the Fort Pitt Tunnels The groundbreaking ceremony for the Fort Pitt tunnel was held April 17 1957 and drilling began August 28 of the same year In April 1960 construction on the tunnels was complete and they opened for the first time at 11 a m on September 1 1960 with a dedication ceremony on the southwestern portal by Governor Lawrence Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Park H Martin and Pittsburgh Mayor Joseph M Barr followed by a christening of the tunnels in which the Governor led a caravan of antique cars through The tunnel cost 17 million equivalent to 168 million in 2022 5 6 1 7 8 On Thursday May 31 2007 a bomb threat shut down the Fort Pitt Tunnel along with the Liberty and Squirrel Hill tunnels causing a major traffic jam 9 The tunnel provided AM reception in 1960 but due to design repairs it was discontinued until 1986 It was improved to cover the entire tunnel with strong reception in March 1997 10 Since August 1987 the tunnels have provided cellular phone reception 11 With the help of Carnegie Mellon University graduate students the tunnel has provided FM reception since July 2005 as well as having its AM signals upgraded at that time In 2015 the original flat ceiling was removed due to its poor condition 12 The tunnel was used as a filming location for the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower 13 Dimensions and specifications Edit3 614 ft 1 102 km in length 28 ft 8 5 m wide 13 5 ft 4 1 m vertical clearance 8 Serves nearly 107 000 vehicles per day There are 1 788 light fixtures with 3 576 bulbs There are 187 200 sq ft 17 390 m2 of tiled surface to wash 8 Notes Edit Interstate 279 prior to June 10 2009 Tunnels at least 3500 feet longReferences Edit a b c d Lisa Wardle April 17 2017 Vintage photos of Fort Pitt Tunnel construction which broke ground in 1957 Penn Live Retrieved February 24 2018 Goldberger Paul January 3 1988 ARCHITECTURE VIEW A Tempered Skyline Strengthens a City of Steel The New York Times Retrieved November 22 2022 KDKA 5PM Anchor Rejoin MAY 99 10 Years Ago Television production Pittsburgh Pennsylvania KDKA TV May 1990 Retrieved February 23 2018 via YouTube dead YouTube link Grata Joe February 2016 Underground Pittsburgh Explore our City of Tunnels Pittsburgh Magazine 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved May 28 2023 The new bridge opens Pittsburgh Post Gazette June 19 1959 p 12 Retrieved February 24 2018 via Newspapers com Eskey Kenneth September 1 1960 New Tunnel Jams Bridge The Pittsburgh Press pp 1 3 Retrieved February 10 2017 via Google News a b c Cridlebaugh Bruce S September 10 2001 Fort Pitt Tunnel Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County Pennsylvania Retrieved August 8 2007 self published source Ayad Moustafa Majors Dan June 1 2007 Bomb Threats Close Major Tunnels During downpour Snarling Traffic Throughout City Pittsburgh Post Gazette Grata Joe April 9 1997 Radio Reception in Parkway Tunnels Is Music to the Ears Pittsburgh Post Gazette pp A1 A2 Retrieved February 10 2016 via Google News Bennett Marcia September 28 1987 Now It s Phones that Do Walking Pittsburgh Post Gazette p 23 Retrieved February 10 2017 via Google News Ritchie Jim July 30 2005 Drivers No Longer Lo adio Reception in Tunnels PDF Pittsburgh Tribune Review Retrieved February 10 2017 Anya Sostek September 28 2012 The Perks Fort Pitt Tunnel stunt Don t try it Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved January 20 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Pitt Tunnel Travel Channel video Video of the tunnel 40 25 55 N 80 01 28 W 40 43191 N 80 02440 W 40 43191 80 02440 Southern portal 40 26 15 N 80 00 50 W 40 43746 N 80 01394 W 40 43746 80 01394 Northern portal40 26 04 N 80 01 08 W 40 43444 N 80 01889 W 40 43444 80 01889 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Pitt Tunnel amp oldid 1123319664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
