You've Never Seen Anything Quite Like This Incredible Tunnel In Utah
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Zion National Park is Utah’s most popular park, and for good reason. Its colorful, sandstone cliffs soar above the valley floor, where the Virgin River twists and turns through stunning slot canyons. The park is full of wildlife, incredible views, and tons of recreation opportunities. We’ve written about Zion National Park before, but the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is amazing enough on its own that it deserves an entire article!
The Zion-Mount Carmel highway and tunnel was a true feat of engineering. Built between 1927 and 1930, the road is 25 miles long, including seven switchbacks that take vehicles from the valley floor, up to an elevation gain of 800 feet. The tunnel was an integral part of the project, and is a truly a unique feature of Utah’s favorite national park. The tunnel is 5,613 feet long (1.1 miles) and was blasted right through the sandstone cliffs above Pine Canyon.
The Zion-Mount Carmel project cost $1,896,000 to build, and provided much-needed work to four crews of men from Nevada and Utah. The work was dangerous, though. Large boulders had to be broken up using dynamite, and rock slides were not uncommon. One man, who was working on the highway below, was killed when a large rock rolled down the side of the mountain and crushed him. Tunnel collapses were not uncommon during the excavation process, though luckily no one was injured.
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The work was very welcome to the men who were suffering through the Great Depression, but it was also dangerous. Large boulders had to be broken up using dynamite, and rock slides were not uncommon. One man, who was working on the highway below was killed when a large rock rolled down the side of the mountain and crushed him.
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This photo was taken in 1929, before the tunnel was complete.
Several galleries were cut into the exterior wall of the tunnel. During construction, the galleries were handy for disposing of rock and waste. Now, they provide natural light, ventilation and some beautiful views.
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Cars were once allowed to stop and park at the galleries, now, due to safety concerns, you have to keep driving through. Don’t worry, though - the view when you emerge is amazing!
Can’t get enough of Zion National Park? If you’re planning on a visit soon, check out this article so you’ll avoid making these 8 common mistakes.
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The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA