Washburn Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Washburn Tunnel is a two-lane underwater motor-vehicle tunnel
connecting Galena Park and Pasadena
, two suburbs of Houston, Texas
. Completed in 1950, it travels north-south underneath the Houston Ship Channel
. It was named after Harris County, Texas
Auditor Harry L. Washburn. It is largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel in the Southern United States.
It is the only underwater vehicle tunnel currently in operation in the state, as the Baytown Tunnel
was replaced in 1995 by a bridge. The tunnel consists of a single bore, 895 meters (2,909 feet) in length, with a six-percent roadway grade outward from the center towards each exit. Forced transverse ventilation is potentially provided by three automatic high-speed Westinghouse Sturtevant blower fans located in a tower at the north entrance. These fans are designed to keep the air free from high-levels of carbon monoxide.
In the event of electrical failure, a generator can support the electrical needs of the tunnel. Every twelfth light is powered by a generator. The light intensity at the portals is three times brighter than the interior. This prevents temporary blindness when entering the tunnel.
Flooding is practically impossible. Pumps located under the road surface drain the water back into the ship channel. Before Hurricane Ike in 2008, the tunnel had never been flooded.
The tunnel is one of five vehicular crossings of the Ship Channel. The other four are the Sidney Sherman Bridge
, popularly known as the (Interstate) 610
or Ship Channel bridge; the Sam Houston
Tollway Ship Channel Bridge, formerly the Jesse Jones Toll Bridge and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the Fred Hartman Bridge
connecting La Porte, Texas
and Baytown, Texas
; and the Lynchburg Ferry
. The tunnel is also the only 24 hrs. operation in Precinct Two.
The tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on April 16, 2008.
Total Length: 3,791 Ft.
Distance between Portals: 2,936 Ft.
Length of Tube Section: 1,500 Ft.
Roadway Width: 22 Ft.
Headroom (each lane): 13 Ft.
Headroom (center Lane): 18 Ft.
Internal Diameter of Tubes: 32 Ft.
External Diameter of Tubes: 38 Ft.
Max. Grade: 6%
Max. Dept (Water to top): 45 Ft.
Max. Dept (Water to roadway): 68 Ft.
Max. Dept (water to bottom): 80 Ft.
Dredging: 425,273 cu. yards
Excavation: 289,600 cu. yards
Tremie Concrete: 11,750 cu. yards
Concrete: 34,250 cu. yards
Steel in tubes: 2,373 tons
Ceramic Tile: 1,061,000
Number of fans: 3
Max Ventilation: 760,000 cfm
Complete Air Exchange: 2 minutes
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...
connecting Galena Park and Pasadena
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston....
, two suburbs of Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Completed in 1950, it travels north-south underneath the Houston Ship Channel
Houston Ship Channel
The Houston Ship Channel, located in Houston, Texas, is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest seaports. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the Gulf of Mexico.-Overview:...
. It was named after Harris County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
Auditor Harry L. Washburn. It is largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel in the Southern United States.
Overview
Merritt_Chapman and Scott Corporation of New York engineered the $7 million project. First, a trench 90x40 feet had to be dug. Second, these sections had to be locked into position 85 feet underwater. Finally, the last touches, such as tiling the inside, were completed.It is the only underwater vehicle tunnel currently in operation in the state, as the Baytown Tunnel
Baytown Tunnel
The Baytown Tunnel or Baytown – La Porte Tunnel was a two-lane underwater motor-vehicle tunnel connecting Baytown and La Porte, two suburbs of Houston, Texas. Completed in 1953, it traveled northeast-southwest underneath the Houston Ship Channel and had a length of...
was replaced in 1995 by a bridge. The tunnel consists of a single bore, 895 meters (2,909 feet) in length, with a six-percent roadway grade outward from the center towards each exit. Forced transverse ventilation is potentially provided by three automatic high-speed Westinghouse Sturtevant blower fans located in a tower at the north entrance. These fans are designed to keep the air free from high-levels of carbon monoxide.
In the event of electrical failure, a generator can support the electrical needs of the tunnel. Every twelfth light is powered by a generator. The light intensity at the portals is three times brighter than the interior. This prevents temporary blindness when entering the tunnel.
Flooding is practically impossible. Pumps located under the road surface drain the water back into the ship channel. Before Hurricane Ike in 2008, the tunnel had never been flooded.
The tunnel is one of five vehicular crossings of the Ship Channel. The other four are the Sidney Sherman Bridge
Sidney Sherman Bridge
The Sidney Sherman Bridge is a strutted girder bridge in Houston, Texas. It spans the Houston Ship Channel and carries the East Loop segment of Interstate 610 on the east side of the city...
, popularly known as the (Interstate) 610
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
or Ship Channel bridge; the Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
Tollway Ship Channel Bridge, formerly the Jesse Jones Toll Bridge and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the Fred Hartman Bridge
Fred Hartman Bridge
The Fred Hartman Bridge or Baytown Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in the U.S. state of Texas, spanning the Houston Ship Channel. The bridge carries 2.6 miles of State Highway 146, between the cities of Baytown, Texas and La Porte, Texas...
connecting La Porte, Texas
La Porte, Texas
La Porte is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Bay Area of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 31,880...
and Baytown, Texas
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
; and the Lynchburg Ferry
Lynchburg Ferry
The Lynchburg Ferry is a ferry across the Houston Ship Channel in the U.S. state of Texas, connecting Crosby-Lynchburg Road in Lynchburg to the north with the former State Highway 134 and San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte to the south...
. The tunnel is also the only 24 hrs. operation in Precinct Two.
The tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on April 16, 2008.
Specifications
Total Cost: $7,683,915 (1950)Total Length: 3,791 Ft.
Distance between Portals: 2,936 Ft.
Length of Tube Section: 1,500 Ft.
Roadway Width: 22 Ft.
Headroom (each lane): 13 Ft.
Headroom (center Lane): 18 Ft.
Internal Diameter of Tubes: 32 Ft.
External Diameter of Tubes: 38 Ft.
Max. Grade: 6%
Max. Dept (Water to top): 45 Ft.
Max. Dept (Water to roadway): 68 Ft.
Max. Dept (water to bottom): 80 Ft.
Dredging: 425,273 cu. yards
Excavation: 289,600 cu. yards
Tremie Concrete: 11,750 cu. yards
Concrete: 34,250 cu. yards
Steel in tubes: 2,373 tons
Ceramic Tile: 1,061,000
Number of fans: 3
Max Ventilation: 760,000 cfm
Complete Air Exchange: 2 minutes
External links
- History and night view from Harris County's Precinct 2
- High-resolution photo at Umicore Web site
