Memorial Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Memorial Tunnel is a 2802 feet (854 m) two-lane vehicular tunnel
that formerly carried the West Virginia Turnpike
through/under Paint Creek Mountain in Standard, West Virginia
in Kanawha County
. Closed to interstate traffic since 1987, the tunnel serves as the Center for National Response
for military first responders to train for various situations that may arise in such a location without alarming the general public.
The tunnel's bypass is not unlike the Pennsylvania Turnpike
bypassing the Laurel Hill Tunnel
in 1964, followed by the bypass
of the Rays Hill
and Sideling Hill Tunnels
in 1968.
monitoring. By 1976, upgrades to the Turnpike commenced, and by 1983 all but the Memorial Tunnel had been completed. The tunnel created a bottleneck - the 4-lane, divided highway turnpike had to merge into the two-lane, two-way traffic configuration of the tunnel, which also had a lower speed limit. This resulted in traffic backups during periods of increased traffic, such as holiday travel seasons. Instead of upgrading and expanding the tunnel, a 1.72 miles (2.8 km) extension was constructed to serve as a bypass for both the tunnel and the Bender Bridge. Costing $35 million to complete, 10000000 cubic yards (7,645,548.6 m³) of earth were removed in addition to 300,000 tons of coal being removed from the mountain. The final vehicle would pass through the tunnel on July 7, 1987, and it would subsequently close for use for pass-through vehicular traffic.
Between 1992 and 1995, the Department of Transportation
entered a deal with the state to utilize the abandoned tunnel for smoke, fire and ventilation experiments. These experiments were carried out to design better developed ventilation systems for the tunnels being constructed as part of the Big Dig
in Boston
; the results of the tests were also incorporated into the design of the Channel Tunnel
. These experiments also resulted in the Federal Highway Administration
allowing jet fans for ventilation in tunnel construction, which was a significant change to their original ventilation designs. The lasting legacy of the Memorial Tunnel Fire Test Program is in both changes in ceilings materials used in tunnel construction as well in the approved use of jet fans for ventilation during construction.
By 2000, the tunnel had been selected as the location where the Center for National Response would conduct anti-terrorism training exercises. The current facilities offered in the center include:
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
that formerly carried the West Virginia Turnpike
West Virginia Turnpike
The West Virginia Turnpike is a toll road in the US state of West Virginia. It is also signed as Interstate 77 for its entire length as well as Interstate 64 from Charleston to just south of Beckley. From Beckley, the road extends south to Princeton...
through/under Paint Creek Mountain in Standard, West Virginia
Standard, West Virginia
Standard is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The community is located on the West Virginia Turnpike north of the Fayette County line....
in Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
. Closed to interstate traffic since 1987, the tunnel serves as the Center for National Response
Center for National Response
The Center for National Response is a two-lane vehicular tunnel opened November 8, 1954 as part of the West Virginia Turnpike. Originally known as Memorial Tunnel, the tunnel formerly carried West Virginia Turnpike through/under Paint Creek Mountain in Standard, West Virginia in Kanawha County...
for military first responders to train for various situations that may arise in such a location without alarming the general public.
The tunnel's bypass is not unlike the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
bypassing the Laurel Hill Tunnel
Laurel Hill Tunnel
Laurel Hill Tunnel is one of three original Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels which were abandoned after two massive realignment projects.The Laurel Hill Tunnel was bored under the border between Westmoreland and Somerset Counties...
in 1964, followed by the bypass
Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is the common name of a 13 mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike that was bypassed in 1968 when a modern stretch opened to ease traffic congestion in the tunnels. In this case, the Sideling Hill Tunnel and Rays Hill Tunnel were bypassed, as was one of the...
of the Rays Hill
Rays Hill Tunnel
Rays Hill Tunnel is one of three original Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels which were abandoned after two massive realignment projects. The others included the Sideling Hill Tunnel, and further west, the Laurel Hill Tunnel. The reason for abandonment was because it was thought to be less expensive...
and Sideling Hill Tunnels
Sideling Hill Tunnel
Sideling Hill Tunnel is one of three original Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels abandoned after two massive realignment projects. The others are nearby Rays Hill Tunnel, and further west, the Laurel Hill Tunnel. It was less expensive to realign the Turnpike than to bore a second tube for four lane...
in 1968.
History
Construction of the Memorial Tunnel commenced in 1952 and it officially opened to traffic on November 8, 1954, at a final cost of $5 million. Its construction required the movement of 91000 cubic yards (69,574.5 m³) of earth, and it was the first tunnel in the nation to have closed-circuit televisionClosed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
monitoring. By 1976, upgrades to the Turnpike commenced, and by 1983 all but the Memorial Tunnel had been completed. The tunnel created a bottleneck - the 4-lane, divided highway turnpike had to merge into the two-lane, two-way traffic configuration of the tunnel, which also had a lower speed limit. This resulted in traffic backups during periods of increased traffic, such as holiday travel seasons. Instead of upgrading and expanding the tunnel, a 1.72 miles (2.8 km) extension was constructed to serve as a bypass for both the tunnel and the Bender Bridge. Costing $35 million to complete, 10000000 cubic yards (7,645,548.6 m³) of earth were removed in addition to 300,000 tons of coal being removed from the mountain. The final vehicle would pass through the tunnel on July 7, 1987, and it would subsequently close for use for pass-through vehicular traffic.
Between 1992 and 1995, the Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
entered a deal with the state to utilize the abandoned tunnel for smoke, fire and ventilation experiments. These experiments were carried out to design better developed ventilation systems for the tunnels being constructed as part of the Big Dig
Big Dig
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project , known unofficially as the Big Dig and as the Big Dug since completion, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery , the chief highway through the heart of the city, into a 3.5-mile tunnel...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
; the results of the tests were also incorporated into the design of the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
. These experiments also resulted in the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
allowing jet fans for ventilation in tunnel construction, which was a significant change to their original ventilation designs. The lasting legacy of the Memorial Tunnel Fire Test Program is in both changes in ceilings materials used in tunnel construction as well in the approved use of jet fans for ventilation during construction.
By 2000, the tunnel had been selected as the location where the Center for National Response would conduct anti-terrorism training exercises. The current facilities offered in the center include:
- A rubble area to simulate collapsed buildings
- An emergency egress trainer
- A subway station, complete with 800 feet (243.8 m) of track and two subway cars from Boston's Green LineGreen Line (MBTA)The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
- A drug enforcement section
- A highway tunnel section, complete with a New York City Transit AuthorityNew York City Transit AuthorityThe New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
bus, firetrucks, a tractor-trailer and other vehicles
See also
- West Virginia TurnpikeWest Virginia TurnpikeThe West Virginia Turnpike is a toll road in the US state of West Virginia. It is also signed as Interstate 77 for its entire length as well as Interstate 64 from Charleston to just south of Beckley. From Beckley, the road extends south to Princeton...
- Interstate 64 in West VirginiaInterstate 64 in West VirginiaThe alignment of Interstate 64 was to originally parallel US 60 from Charleston to the Virginia state line. This would go through environmentally sensitive areas such as Hawk's Nest and the New River Gorge area and might have disrupted the natural beauty and the isolation of the area.In 1969,...
- Interstate 77 in West VirginiaInterstate 77 in West VirginiaIn the U.S. state of West Virginia, Interstate 77 is a major north–south Interstate highway. It extends for between Bluefield at the Virginia state line to Williamstown at the Ohio state line....
- Abandoned Pennsylvania TurnpikeAbandoned Pennsylvania TurnpikeThe Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is the common name of a 13 mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike that was bypassed in 1968 when a modern stretch opened to ease traffic congestion in the tunnels. In this case, the Sideling Hill Tunnel and Rays Hill Tunnel were bypassed, as was one of the...
- Laurel Hill TunnelLaurel Hill TunnelLaurel Hill Tunnel is one of three original Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels which were abandoned after two massive realignment projects.The Laurel Hill Tunnel was bored under the border between Westmoreland and Somerset Counties...
External links
- Center for National Response official website