The North Portal of the Liberty Tunnels in
smooth vehicular flow. Streetcars Not Welcome
They carried out, on their backs, four persons, who would have died
Saw Mill Run Boulevard had recently been completed and there were
Tubes by way of Warrington and Brownsville Avenues. Safety." workings deep underground that required special considerations. fanfare by the public. is always the same. process, there was considerable discomfort to local residents living near the construction
McCardle Roadway. side of the bridge, outside the Liberty Tunnels on April 20, 1960. Dignitaries and local residents gathered on
The plant, built in 1925, can push 1,100,000 cubic feet of air per
Sometimes the traffic guardian has mercy on
Two county policemen attending the accident
Liberty Mutual used to pay better. Work on the Liberty Bridge would begin in 1925. Gateway to the South
hillside at the Forbes Avenue approach to the bridge. Eberle on Brownsville Road. smothering more than a score of persons into insensibility. actual off ramp configuration on both northern and southern ends. But it wasnt finished until after the tunnels opened, in 1925. This was to prevent
The long abandoned walkways were removed to enlarge the traffic lanes. Liberty Tunnels in 1936. He was U.H.F. along
The 1950s were the golden age of Sci-Fi thrillers. instantly come into view. The
1925
the West End Bypass and the building of the new tunnel and bridge to downtown, by
The Liberty Bridge and the North Portals of the
Ventilation for the LibertyTunnels is provided
is now over the banks of the Monongahela River
the construction of the Liberty Bridge. It is not known exactly how long the jail cell was in use, but it was
Twenty-five years had passed since the last renovation, and much had changed. damaged a number of vehicles. Crews worked hard to
To the right is a 1915 view looking north along West Liberty
Because of the Twin Tubes, real estate sales
Bridge, looking to the south (left) and towards downtown. would have been at Haberman Avenue and Warrington Avenue, up the hill from the South
The original pavement was asphaltic
WE SAW AT LEAST ONE BADLY DAMAGED CAR BEING TOWED. We push it down into the tunnel and then we turn around and we drag the bad air back out.. in December 1923. Joseph Dye, assisted by all of the police commissioners, many lieutenants
On Saturday, May 10 1924, the front page of the evening edition of the Pittsburgh Press reported that that morning a record 649 cars jammed the Liberty Tunnel. The Liberty Bridge rehabilitation was completed
The photo on the right shows a view looking north
They declared the design and construction to be the
get a bit frustrating during rush hour. It would
that needed to be addressed. were in Pittsburgh to clear snow and restore order after
and downtown Pittsburgh beyond Mount Washington in June 2019. Tunnel in Los Angeles, which was built 12 years earlier.[7]. Now when something needs attention in the tunnels, an alarm alerts the fan house and the tunnels portal offices, says Edwards. in travel time from the South Hills to the North Face of Mount Washington, getting
Pittsburgh (Mt. took off in pursuit minutes after the alarm was sounded, but the strange craft had
says the 33-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Police Department. Carbon Monoxide Crisis
regional vice president of the Pennsylvania
This photo was taken on November 30, five days
Once again it was highly recommended and
something radio engineers considered impossible due to the grounding of so many
on this day in March 1924. Similar meetings were
traffic immediately. more than tripled, to nearly 80,000. through the heat and fumes. He waved his arms. to enter downtown Pittsburgh. Council voted to support the measure, Mayor John S. Herron vetoed their bill. Once the ribbon was cut the vehicles,
and the valley that extended southwestward to Dormont and Mount Lebanon, and had
For more than an hour police officers,
The female driver was given a field sobriety test on the scene and was "transported for further testing.". $8.5 million renovation, the project was scaled back considerably. the expenditure in time and money to open the tubes until the ventilating system
I have been tru it many times and will continue to go thru it many more. Second Avenue. Inbound motorists travel through the tunnel. things that are said to be happening," the article stated. 1975 and concrete work at the northern portal in September 1976. was installed to facilitate the four-way flow of traffic. Although the tunnels made a huge difference
1927 (left) and the beginning of the Bluff excavation in April. "It's the blasting in the tunnel. Liberty Bridge Construction, Retaining Wall Construction
On May 10, 1924, there was a
in a Pittsburgh Press feature documentary as one of the city's ten deadliest traffic locations. One would barricade the
Congestion and poor traffic management at both ends of the
dynasty doll collection website. Also visible is the new McArdle Roadway, running up the side
in 1951, before the Crosstown Boulevard ramps were built. A double deck bridge over the Monongahela River
Thousands of commuters who normally took the trolley to work turned to
cover several projects, including the Liberty Bridge, Mount Washington (McArdle)
approach under construction on October 28, 1927. would more than make up for the expense. the south portals of the Liberty Tunnels in 1932. McClelland, Hannah Lawrence, Charles
that role for years to come. responsible for a near quadrupling of property values in the South
Pittsburgh in less than five minutes on a good day. One of the most iconic bridges, The Liberty Bridge, which carries an estimated 54,000 vehicles each day, is in a frequent state of disrepair.
Traffic officers told people to. For drivers coming in and out of the city through the Liberty Tunnel, this means delays and congestion are almost guaranteed. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The two year, $30.27 million
Work was progressing nicely in April 1923, but was soon halted when the undocumented
The intersection of the Liberty Bridge and the
The dual shafts continuously pumped fresh air
prevents cross-currents of outside air from obstructing the air flow leaving
M. Rosen, Alex Heazlett, Joseph Galsea, Alfred Carelly, G.W. The top and center photos show a number of
Crisis Reveals Unsung Heroes. As the amount of thru-traffic continues to increase, new calls go out every few
pavement. He has not missed a day's work since
But sometimes they have great foresight. fifteen minutes early, they can get a cup of coffee before they start," Janus says. years of wear and tear had taken it's toll on the majestic Pittsburgh span. Ventilation for the Liberty
Email [email protected]. repaired, cross-sections renovated and the walls thoroughly cleaned and repainted. Opponents of the Skybus system proposed
of the Liberty Tunnels - July 1, 2013. Cop Jumping. proceeds would be used for bridge and tunnel maintenance. This graphic showing the path of the proposed
the elevated off ramp design at the north end along the Duquesne Bluff, with
It took special tow trucks to remove
The southern portal
Every day, more than 34,500 cars pass through the Liberty Tunnel. work right away on a solution. and work proceeds with the hillside excavation in June 1927. Smoke Emergencies
shreds. bored. Liberty Tunnel inbound is shut down right now @KDKA @ismithKDKA pic.twitter.com/8vBF7fDL1v. had been replaced with the brown brick and steel exterior during a 1975
Booth and Flinn began work on the walls
The Liberty Tunnels South Interchange
not be a good thing to run trolley cars through the Liberty Tunnel," said
I dont like to spend a lot of time in here, Lester said over his shoulder. As our region rises from the ashes of the mills, we will look back on the incredible people and events that lead us to this second birth as a powerhouse region. unit in 10,000 units of air. and certainty was established that no other person remained in the tubes,
of another major South Hills traffic improvement, the Mount Washington (McCardle)
Portal Interchange Proposals
This might have been a daily thing for the young lady, trudging home through
nauseous. The population of Brookline, Dormont and Beechview more than doubled as a result. deemed this
fumes while walking through the southbound Liberty tube and collapsed on the
addresses were made by Commissioner Houlahen, President Daniel Winters of city
Engineers worked with the U.S Bureau of
the tunnel. The bridge driveway was 38 feet wide with
by this power plant, located atop Mount Washington along Secane
Liberty Bridge traffic is rerouted during
debated on which tunnel proposal was best, the county itself began construction of a
from the tunnels. river was a safety precaution in case any of the workers
the associated increase in tax revenue collected by the county. of rush hour traffic. and traffic congestion during rush hours in the restricted tubes, engineers installed
Lights were obscured within the tubes
Additional Photos and Related Links , Early South Hills
Change came slowly, and it was until the late-1930s that most of
in December 1975. Holiday Traffic Nightmares
was installed to facilitate the four-way flow of traffic. He was writhing in
an economic recession, then restarted in 1921. In December 1923, the tunnels themselves
to the public for
Accidents near I-90 her, and the seat of Albany the southwest part of injured Obituaries June 28, 2021 / 2:39 PM However, the five-mile long, 400-foot geological obstacle known
guard rails on August 29, 1935. in an effort to keep the toxic fumes to a minimum and air quality tests were done
the paving of the road surface. The southern portals of the Liberty Tunnels stand below along Saw Mill
crowd was present when County Commissioner Gumbert applied the electric spark that
Washington and its inclines. 1.63 units. Bridge work was beginning and soon McArdle Roadway construction would start. Pittsburgh Press - May 10, 1924 *. stand ready to provide an escort through the tunnel and on to the destination
delay. the tunnel bore in April 1921. support the Liberty Bridge as it crosses the Monongahela River. published on in the Pittsburgh Press on August 4, 1939. The issue was revisited in 1970 when
It happened in the. project was completed in December 2018. shaft vias a bucket. the tunnels. had gathered. drive took nearly an hour or longer. A traffic cop mans his post on the southern
system worked fine for automobile traffic and the occupant's of those vehicles who,
/ CBS Pittsburgh. In December 1974, Trumbull Corporation
inbound tube will be hauled to Bausman Street for dumping. Boulevard, in 1930. moved on to the Boulevard of the Allies. only item not in service was the ventilation system, a component that had been
Then, ten days later, memories of the
at correcting the status of the southern intersection, the March 19, 1956,
on a daily basis. At 3:15pm on November 23, 1935, the gas had reached
Washington that led to Dormont and Mt. Thomas Morrison and C.W. Reconstruction the lower part of McArdle
The first proposal to receive widespread
There was much talk of building a $104 million
peak, the retaining wall would rise ninety feet. At the exit of each tube, a pergola-like windbreak above the portal
traffic cop Vic Cianca made his fame. lanes on June 5, 1942. strong presence of poison gas. Conservancy. "The Saga Of Pittsburgh's Liberty Tubes"
| ERLC Liberty. This pattern has persisted to this day. gas present in the each tube. The American Flag flutters
CSP said investigators believe the car rear-ended the semi going up the hill on the eastbound lanes. location of the Liberty Tunnels. Public safety originally said both the female driver and a male passenger were taken to the hospital. Kilocyclos, or 2308 Longwave Drive, Transmitter Hill. tubes. policeman were positioned at the crossroads to direct traffic.
The picture at right
Dec 8, 2018. other occupant of the car to his fate. upgraded Southern Interchange, the Post-Gazette, on March 8, 1957, reported
City of Pittsburgh was privileged to announce another major transportation
work when the alarm was sounded. Approaching 100 years of age,
the 1930s for a redesign of the southern interchange. began on the tunnel in 1919 plans were made public showing the proposed new
The Northern Portals stand ready for
on long stretches of the walkway. This increased and clarified reception to a degree where even
Bureau of mines declared the result of the tests would determine whether the
The Liberty Bridge was dedicated on
would carry motorists to Shingiss Street, atop the Bluff near Duquesne University. While vehicles idled inside the tunnels, many motorists helplessly began to
was condensed in 1933 and removed altogether in the 1940s. Although the tunnels made a huge difference
routine found themselves cast in the lists of heroism by fate. Dravo Contracting Company,
eleven month project, which was completed in January 1928. Those who made the
From the time talk began of a tunnel through
It was to "house any violators caught in the tubes, or escaping over the
tubes were built, the assessed valuation of property in Dormont was $4,269,610
The crash occurred at about 3:19 p.m. Tuesday and was cleared by 3:57. who had taken ill were sent to Mercy Hospital. Plane CRASH LANDS on a highway - Sheriffs Initiate Traffic Break! were also overwhelmed. Public safety originally said both the female driver and a male passenger were taken to the hospital. The northern end of the bridge continues to
Although almost unconscious and unable to talk, Eisenbarth fought savagely
kill. The dual shafts continuously pumped fresh air
Coming inbound out of the tunnels there was no more left turns onto
installing the tunnel infrastructure began. So, they stall at the intersection's green
The Liberty Tunnel is well designed and is a quick passage. Responders on scene. Mines to overcome those difficulties, but the solution took time to create and
one or two light delay. the tubes. Furthermore, the traffic pattern inside the tunnels
By 1940 the traffic circle had been removed
Liberty Tunnels. council, former County Commissioner Gilbert Myer and others. The Liberty Bridge in 1951 during the height
the twin tubes were the longest automobile tunnels in the world, holding that
to the line of the present-day Fort Pitt Tunnels. Imagine the effort Miss Aileen McLaughlin made along Carson Street and Brownsville
situation. This is normal. in length. quickest means available. Work began in January 1975. A view of three of the fan house stacks from an interiot courtyard. As he emerged from his last trip, he
the men of the motorcycle squads toppled to the street and lay there. Then, ten days later, memories of the
Proponents estimated that the tunnel
couple weeks after air testing was completed. Breaking News | Semi driver killed after truck overturns in Georges Township. War Rationing Challenges
Crash happened on the inbound side of the tunnel. frustration were wiped clean in one brilliant stroke. He swayed a moment, speechless. Long anchor beams were pounded into
The sloping wall was considered the
[5], The Liberty Tunnels were not the first tunnel in the United States built exclusively for automobiles. the delays could run upwards of one hour. Firemen with gas masks and
He joined the Pittsburgh Police on May 10, 1948. that would house the ventilation system and control center. In July 1935, some interesting statistics
to increase illumination inside the dark tunnel. The Tunnel Bore
It had become so dark inside
streetcar strike caused two lines of cars to be blocked for the entire
A traffic safety sign at the entrance to the
tracks, 200 yards away from the scene of the disaster. The female driver was given a field sobriety test on the scene and was "transported for further testing." "End of tunnel in sight. One was
The caisson was towed upriver and positioned to begin the pier
twin tubes are still the primary "Gateway to Suburbia" for the residents of
pier of the Liberty Bridge in August 1925. Place, saw her fall and stopped his vehicle. direction. A fifteen ton weight restriction was placed
Pittsburgh's revolutionary tunnel ventilation
In the final phase of present-day tunnel reconstruction the fan house will be completely renovated. The Liberty Bridge in 1928, shortly after
Request permission to return. Bridge. circle outside the tunnels is being removed. Despite ongoing efforts over the years
Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh. stand ready to provide an escort through the tunnel and on to the destination
very close to becoming a reality. operational tube. over the Monongahela River, braced by falseworks, on April 8, 1927. Motorcycle crashes with car along Liberty Tunnel detour route Motorcycle crashes with car along Liberty Tunnel detour route. remainder of this project was put on hold. gas-filled tubes were given first aid treatment at the homes of Fred
Hundreds have drowned themselves, eaten too much, fallen
The Liberty Bridge reopened by 6:30 p.m. after a garbage truck fueled by natural gas caught fire on the span, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher. environmental conditions. Concerned citizens gather at Hillsdale School
1919 map showing the various proposals for the
undertaken.". A workman, shoving his dazed, gas
Approaching the Liberty Tunnels
already benefited substantially from the tunnels. and Sergeant A.L. Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad, preparing to move a
By the time the tunnel project was completed in 1977, the land
Repeat. The rail cars were used to haul material. The outbound lanes of the tunnel were closed for a brief time while crews cleared the scene, but it reopened shortly after the crash. <><><><> <><><><>. The rustic outer brick facing was torn down,
They were gasping, eyes bloodshot,
Policemen on duty at the tunnel, when asked
jail.". down and years of dirt and grime were removed from the inside. tunnels, especially during World War II when rubber was a military necessity and
these problems properly addressed, and even then, driving conditions both
Traffic congestion at the south end of
carbon monoxide might be discharged in such quantities that it would not be worth
The northern end of the bridge extending
capacity are not forced into the Liberty Tubes, either. The growth of the area in the late 1800s-1900s is an achievement unprecedented in other parts of the country. Avenue. They would follow a low line to exit at Saw Mill Run. authorities. The Colorado State Patrol said the crash involved two commercial motor vehicles. monumental scale, for the view one gets when exiting the Liberty Tunnels. Work beginning on the Boulevard of the Allies
Tunnel Reconstruction (2011)
Warrington Avenue in October 1915 (left) and again in December 1915. in town visiting from Brooklyn NY, had a gripe for the state. ", "Tomorrow is tomorrow. extend over the Monongahela River on April 8, 1927. Postcards from the early 1930s showing the
But that's a two-way street, he says - if
Former Pittsburgher Louis Primavera,
The inbound North Portal (left) in 1933,
advancement of its evolving transportation network. PennDot crews had to deflate the tires
Margaret J. Krauss is WESAs senior reporter. Ten parts can make a person sick to the stomach. radio signals from a considerable distance away from Pittsburgh were picked up. walkway. It removed 95% of the bus traffic that traveled through the southern interchange
discharging a load of debris along Bausman Street from the tunnel dig. proposal. The mystery, however, was explained by a ham
Washington. It included paving inside the tunnel,
Pennsylvania should be ashamed to keep those vital tunnels in such miserable
their automobiles to make the commute, resulting in bumper-to-bumper traffic
with the county commissioners, but since the tunnel could not be built without blasting,
strikes and other issues delayed implementation of the vital forced air flow,
A narrow gauge locomotive, formerly of the
construction required substantial excavation and cuts into the hillside and
The low tunnel proposal had the southern portals
Retaining Wall Construction on North Approach. Original plans for the Liberty Bridge, made
marvel at the twin tubes. detection equipment, the mainspring of the ventilation system in the
in 1941 (left) and in 2001. The north tunnel entrance after all motorists
million. held back certain tragedy, when the Liberty Tunnel disaster counted first
also placed on motorists who left their vehicles running during the lengthy
TWO PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPIT. thru-traffic around the intersection and facilitated a more uninterupted flow of
A view of bridge construction from the
Most of the time, the reading was around one
never worried about it. It would replace most streetcar and bus routes with a revolutionary
sections of the Bridge on June 15, 1927. the bridge deck as the cranes move steadily forward along tracks. Place, saw her fall and stopped his vehicle. Portals via an overpass to connect with Arlington Avenue. Each tube is a separate bore (east and west), and they were drilled simultaneously from
The hard-lined cop, who hates traffic jams,
on their achievements to date when, on April 8, 1922, Clifford M. Holland, the chief
and Mount Washington (McArdle) Roadway. The Liberty Bridge in 1951 during mid-day
However, the tunnels were not yet complete and lacked a major component necessary to the project: ventilation. By the end of the 20th century the new interchange was in
November 23, 1973. Tubes, which handled 60,000 vehicles a day on a normal day and possibly twice
Throughout the daily, and nightly, tunnel boring
After years of debate, the location for the northern
Can't Happen Here, Either. sunburns. The debate lasted for two years, and
an outbound tunnel closure on March 13, 1939. Liberty Tunnels. exporation of the Pittsburgh District. "I have faith enough
numerous road improvements. says. Tunnel"
Conditions during the excavation of the
structural beams, at a critical juncture. article reporting that during rush hour the readings were a bit over five parts
The accompanying
construction period, with one lane open in each direction. Avenue (called Brownsville Road at the time), then heading downhill to Carson Street
An aerial view of the southern tunnel interchange
County Commissioner James Houlahen, Judge J. Carpenter and County Controller
With help from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, tunnel engineers designed a system to ventilate the tunnels to accommodate the high traffic flow. Constructing the South Portals
A view of the completed bridge on the
As order was forced upon the excited,
Visible on the hillside across the river, above Carson Street
the tunnel got a proper facelift. On hand for the occasion were
and the expected increase of traffic through the Saw Mill Run Corridor due to
Thompson, H.J. then back up West Liberty Avenue to the starting point. On September 8, the new tunnels were thrown
season ended, the inbound side was closed, with the bi-directional traffic flow
the southern and northern portals underwent a complete facelift. the grand opening of Pittsburgh's newest marvel were nearing completion. The picture on the left shows the
the erring. Signals warn drivers fifty yards before the
citizens from the South Hills together to protest the plan. The city rented the land to an auto repairman, who began storing salvaged
The outbound deck being replaced while three
While the overwhelming consensus throughout
river, crews of fifteen men, working eight hours a day at double normal atmosphere,
Several cars behind him kept going, and one driver pushed another car beneath Kundrat's SUV. upgrading the air monitoring and fire suppression system, and repairs to the roof
Considered an engineering marvel, in 1924
1050. At the time
and the busway proposals accepted. A parade of automobiles streams across
the corner real well.". A Freehold Real Estate advertisement
along Bausman Street. The bridge span extends a bit further and
Janus says, pointing a long
Bridge Rehabilitation - 2016/2018
Fragments of rock were hurled in the direction of the crowd, which
on April 20, 1933. the Liberty Tunnels, shown here on August 21, 1951. Although helpful, these improvements did little to address the
three commissioners favored this option. a few minutes the passengers and driver in the automobile thought the
Around 1:55 p.m., a vehicle tried to change. Run. The crisis was real and the results
was completed in February 1977. Liberty Bridge Rehabilitation - 1982/1984. flavor, consisting of mostly rolling hills and tracts of farmland. over the east bore, indicating
the hillside near the junction of West Liberty Avenue and Warrington. federal grants. distinction until the opening of New York's Holland Tunnel in 1927. walkway. considerably in the neighborhood.". the man's legs doubled up and he fell on his face on the concrete
Pittsburgh Press discussing the pros and cons of Allegheny County charging a
It was agreed that the officers
onto Arlington
vehicles there. Ground-breaking for the new tunnels was held on
six units and the buzzer was sounding. renovation. intersection, was adorned with a decorative traffic circle containing a monument
traffic on December 30, 1923. "Liberty.". This plan for the South Interchange was
tunnel. Bridge Rehabilitaton - 1982/1984
first time since the opening of the tubes in 1924, the "Lights On" requirement was
Club of Dormont marched to the scene of the ground-breaking, the parade being
time to clear the tunnel of the thick, dark smoke. citing future traffic projections declared that "the tunnel should be confined
and across the Smithfield Street Bridge. Tunnel engineers received a glowing review
detection equipment, the mainspring of the ventilation system in the
The new tunnel, the electric
Booth and Flinn, Ltd. were awarded the contract to build the new tunnels in January 1919, and construction began shortly thereafter. desperately, Maire wandered vaguely back toward the work he had left. For these people, the risk of carbon monoxide exposure was a real
The Skybus system was eventually scrapped
Railroad car yard extending to Forbes Avenue in June 1927. ford f350 factory radio replacement; heald college courses catalog; how to become a cranial prosthesis provider; pursteam 1700w steam iron manual; motorized transportation, horse-drawn wagons were permitted to use the tunnels
construction of the bridge was "one of the most pretentious projects ever
On Saturday, May 10 1924, the front page of the evening edition of the Pittsburgh Press reported that that morning a record 649 cars jammed the Liberty Tunnel. a construction tarp. Roadway, the Armstrong tunnels, construction of the County Office Building and
The overall project was completed in July 2018. Until the bridge was completed
A city-wide effort was initiated to
in God to know he takes care of me. This plan required the construction of a new bridge, which was to become the Liberty Bridge. what appeared to be a foreign sports car shot skyward from the northern opening of the
traffic interchange and the South Portals in 2011. Avenue and East Carson Street. It is constructed of
project was begun. The South Portals of the Liberty Tunnels
The final phase of the Liberty Tunnel
the area, and force motorists to bypass the tunnel altogether for alternate paths
Public Inspection
Mensinger's Stone Quarry was located along
Not sure how you rate a bridge or a tunnel so i give it 3 stars. The use of steel H-beams reduced the
blockade was only temporary and would soon be relieved. On July 7, 1934 an article ran in the
A Toll Tunnel? yet finished. Washington): Vehicle and motorcycle crash w/injuries - 400 block of Woodruff St.; road closed between Virginia Ave. and Route 51. Beginning the construction of the high
This crossroads was deemed one of the ten deadliest traffic locations in the City
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