Where can I find information about the Washburn Tunnel?
Follow the Washburn Tunnel - Harris County Precinct 2 Facebook page for operation updates. The Washburn Tunnel is a two lane underwater roadway connecting Galena Park and Pasadena. Named after Harris County Auditor Harry L. Washburn, the tunnel opened in 1950. It is the south's largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel.
Why was the Harris County tunnel named after Harry Washburn?
Harry L. Washburn had served as County Auditor forforty-one years was honored in the Tunnel naming by the Harris CountyCommissioners Court to the chagrin of many Pasadena and Galena Parkresidents, who wanted the tunnel named for their respective cities (Houston Chronicle, July 26, 1955; Harris County Commissioners CourtMinutes, April 4, 1949).
Is the Washburn Tunnel the same as the Pasadena ferry?
The Washburn Tunnel followed approximately the same route set forth by thePasadena Ferry.
What is the length of the Los Angeles Tunnel?
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.
What days are the Washburn Tunnel closed?
24 hours, 7 days a week, except for cleaning and maintenance hours. Follow the Washburn Tunnel Facebook page for operation updates.
Why is the Washburn Tunnel closed?
Published on: February 28, 2020. The tunnel closes for maintenance and cleaning every Friday from midnight to 4:00 a.m., and on the second Saturday of each month from 10pm to 10am on Sunday.
Is the Washburn Tunnel still in use?
Washburn and serves as the first and longest toll-free tunnel in the Southern U.S. It's the only underwater vehicular tunnel currently operating in Texas, after the Baytown Tunnel was converted into a bridge in 1995.
How deep does the Washburn Tunnel go?
80 FtMax. Dept (water to bottom): 80 Ft.
How many tunnels are in Texas?
2019 Complex Tunnels By StateState NameTunnel CountComplexSOUTH DAKOTA70TENNESSEE142TEXAS52UTAH6049 more rows•Dec 31, 2019
Are trucks allowed in the Washburn Tunnel?
Published on: February 28, 2020. No. 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, or vehicles carrying a tank or closed drum are not permitted in the tunnel.
Is there water over the mobile tunnel?
The George Wallace Tunnel is a pair of road tunnels that carry Interstate 10 through Mobile, Alabama from the city's downtown, going beneath the Mobile River, and emerging on Blakeley Island where they join the Jubilee Parkway over Mobile Bay....George Wallace Tunnel.OverviewRouteI-10OperationOpenedFebruary 9, 1973Traffic78,775 (2015)12 more rows
Does Houston have a tunnel?
District. DOWNTOWN'S "underground" is a system of tunnels 20 feet below Houston's downtown streets and more than 6 miles long. Having started out years ago as a tunnel between two downtown movie theaters, today it includes restaurants and service retail and connects 95 city blocks.
Is the Baytown Tunnel still open?
It was closed to vehicular traffic in 1995 with the opening of the Fred Hartman Bridge, and subsequently demolished beginning in 1997 in order for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the channel in 1998.
What city is the San Jacinto Monument in?
HoustonAbout Houston Just 20 miles east of downtown you can visit the San Jacinto battleground, where Texas won its independence from Mexico. There you will find the towering San Jacinto Monument, the San Jacinto Museum of History and Battleship Texas.
Why was the Washburn Tunnel built?
The Pasadena Ferry, whichcould carry 36 automobiles, had been retired two years earlier (HoustonPress, February 16, 1950). The Washburn tunnel, located beneath the Houston Ship Channel, was thefirst dry land vehicular link across the ship channel between the 69thStreet Bridge and the Gulf of Mexico.
What happened to the Baytown tunnel?
It was closed to vehicular traffic in 1995 with the opening of the Fred Hartman Bridge, and subsequently demolished beginning in 1997 in order for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the channel in 1998.
What was the first tunnel built under the Houston Ship Channel?
ThePasadena-Galena Park site would eventually become the Washburn Tunnel andbe the first built under the Houston Ship Channel. Built about the sametime, the Baytown Tunnel carried auto passengers from north of Morgan’sPoint to Baytown until the Hartman Bridge replaced the need for a tunnelin that area.
What is the name of the tunnel connecting Clinton and Pasadena?
The Washburn Tunnel Connecting Clinton and Pasadena. “a city without old building is like a man without a memory.”. --- Konrad Smigielaki. J. C. Clopper, during his 1828 visit to Texas, considered Buffalo Bayou“the most remarkable stream he had ever seen and though it had theappearance of an artificial canal.”.
What trees are on the Buffalo Bayou?
In 1835, Buffalo Bayou travelers described great forests of oak, cedar,ash and pine met on the banks of the bayou, and cypress and magnoliatrees, as many as 700 large trees per mile, protected the waterfront. Thescent of magnolia and wild cherry blossoms drifted on the spring air.
Where is the Washburn Tunnel?
The Washburn tunnel, located beneath the Houston Ship Channel, was thefirst dry land vehicular link across the ship channel between the 69thStreet Bridge and the Gulf of Mexico. The Washburn Tunnel is locatedbetween the cities of Pasadena on the south with Galena Park on the north. As Shaver Street exits Pasadena, there is a traffic circle where it isjoined by Red Bluff Road on the east and West Richey Street entering fromthe southwest. Just after the circle, lies the south entrance to thetunnel. Upon leaving the tunnel at the north side of the ship channel,there is a Roundabout, with Clinton Drive joining from the west. Past theRoundabout the street is named Federal Road. The Washburn Tunnelheadquarters and maintenance slips are located just south of the trafficRoundabout on the north side of the Houston Ship Channel on Federal Road.
Who was the auditor for the Washburn Tunnel?
The Washburn Tunnel followed approximately the same route set forth by thePasadena Ferry. Harry L. Washburn had served as County Auditor forforty-one years was honored in the Tunnel naming by the Harris CountyCommissioners Court to the chagrin of many Pasadena and Galena Parkresidents, who wanted the tunnel named for their respective cities (Houston Chronicle, July 26, 1955; Harris County Commissioners CourtMinutes, April 4, 1949).
Who was Theodore-Frederic Gaillardet?
Theodore-Frederic Gaillardet, a noted professional writer of his time,having received a law degree in Paris and involved support of the Frenchrecognition of Texas. Gaillardet was one of the most respected of Frenchvisitors to Texas in 1839.
Who was the last pilot of the Pasadena Ferry?
The last pilot for the Pasadena Ferry, whichcarried only pedestrians, was Elmer Clayton. The Pasadena Ferry, whichcould carry 36 automobiles, had been retired two years earlier (HoustonPress, February 16, 1950).
How long is the Baytown Tunnel?
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.
What is the Washburn Tunnel?
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 the largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel in ...
What is the name of the bridge that crosses the ship channel?
The other four are the Sidney Sherman Bridge, popularly known as the (Interstate) 610 or Ship Channel bridge; the Sam Houston 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 twenty-four-hour operation in Precinct Two.
What can a generator do in a tunnel?
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.
When was the Tunnel added to the National Register of Historic Places?
The tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2008.
Is the ship channel flooded before Hurricane Ike?
Pumps located under the road surface counter accumulation of water by draining it 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.
What is the longest tunnel in Texas?
The Longest Tunnel In Texas Has A Truly Fascinating Backstory. If you’ve ever traveled between Pasadena and Houston, you’ve likely driven through the Washburn Tunnel. It truly was an incredible feat of engineering for its time, and its history is fascinating. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life.
When was the Baytown Tunnel converted into a bridge?
It's the only underwater vehicular tunnel currently operating in Texas, after the Baytown Tunnel was converted into a bridge in 1995.
Is there an underwater tunnel in Texas?
It's the only underwater vehicular tunnel currently operating in Texas, after the Baytown Tunnel was converted into a bridge in 1995. The thought of traveling below such an incredible amount of water pressure might be a little unsettling, but fear not - there are pumps underneath the pavement that drain any water back into the ship channel.
