Pennsylvania Canal Tunnel facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Status | abandoned |
| Waterway | (Pennsylvania) Main Line of Public Works |
| Start | Pittsburgh turning basin of the Western Division of the Pennsylvania canal |
| End | Monongahela River at Suke's Run |
| Operation | |
| Closed | 1857 |
| Technical | |
| Design engineer | Meloy and M'Alvey |
| Construction | cut and cover |
| Length | 810 feet |
The Pennsylvania Canal Tunnel was an important part of an old transportation system in Pennsylvania. This system was called the Main Line of Public Works. The tunnel was located in Pittsburgh and served as the end point for a canal.
Building the tunnel was approved on February 8, 1827. It was finished on November 10, 1829. This made it one of the earliest tunnels built for canals.
Contents
What Was the Pennsylvania Canal Tunnel?
The Pennsylvania Canal Tunnel was a special underground path for canal boats. It was part of a big project to move goods across Pennsylvania. This project used canals, railroads, and even inclined planes.
The canal itself crossed the Allegheny River on a covered bridge. This bridge was like a water bridge, called an aqueduct. Later, a famous engineer named John A. Roebling replaced it with a suspension bridge.
How the Tunnel Worked
After crossing the Allegheny River, the canal went underground. It traveled beneath downtown Pittsburgh, under a place called Grant's Hill. The tunnel ended at a lock, which led to the Monongahela River.
The original idea was to connect this canal to the C&O Canal. However, the C&O Canal never reached Pittsburgh. So, the tunnel's main job became allowing extra water from the canal to flow into the Monongahela River.
Only a few canal boats ever passed through the tunnel. It was mostly used for water overflow.
Why the Tunnel Was No Longer Used
The tunnel became less important when the Pennsylvania Railroad arrived. This happened in 1852. Trains could move goods much faster than canal boats. Because of this, the canal system, including the tunnel, was closed in 1857.
Rediscovering the Tunnel
Even though it was closed, the tunnel wasn't forgotten forever. It was uncovered during construction projects many years later. In 1967, parts of the tunnel were found when the U.S. Steel Tower was being built.
Later, when the subway system was under construction, more of the tunnel was found. The subway even used a part of the old tunnel on the south side. This shows how old structures can sometimes be reused or rediscovered.
