Beaucatcher Tunnel

The Beaucatcher Tunnel was constructed from 1927 to 1929. The 750-foot-long tunnel carries two lanes of traffic and has sidewalks on either side.

The construction of the tunnel was surrounded by controversy and catastrophes. Almost a year into the project, the engineers and workers expressed concern about the stability of the tunnel. These concerns were ignored, and part of the tunnel caved in. There were no deaths or injuries, but a steam shovel, two flat cars, various tools, and about 50 feet of track were buried. This cave-in resulted in a 30-day delay and additional project costs. More importantly, it resulted in politicians pointing to the tunnel with cynicism and contempt, using it as a talking point against reckless spending.

The tunnel underwent its first renovation project from 1996 to 1997. This project was aimed at improving the aesthetics of the tunnel to make a big impression on tourists. It included removing graffiti and installing light-reflecting and graffiti-proof liner, cleaning the light fixtures and replacing lamps, sealing cracks, and installing concrete barriers between pedestrians and vehicles. Most notably, this project also replaced the faded archways with gray granite from local quarries.

In 2014, new rock faces were installed at both portals, and the interior was coated with a graffiti-proof coating. The coating was also designed to stop water leaking inside the tunnel. LED lighting was added to the tunnel in 2018.