Armstrong Tunnel

The Armstrong Tunnel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connects Second Avenue at the South Tenth Street Bridge, under the Bluff where Duquesne University is located, to Forbes Avenue between Boyd Street and Chatham Square.

Armstrong Tunnel
The Armstrong Tunnel at Forbes Avenue. Duquesne University's Gumberg Library is visible in the background
LocationBetween Forbes and Second Aves. at S. Tenth St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Coordinates40°26′16″N 79°59′33″W
Built1926
ArchitectCovell, Vernon R.; Et al.
NRHP reference No.86000015[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 7, 1986
Designated PHLF2003[2]

Construction

The tunnel was constructed between 1926 and 1927. The chief engineer was Vernon R. Covell of the Allegheny County Public Works Department. The tunnel portals were designed by a city architect, Stanley L. Roush, who is also noted for the Smithfield Street Bridge portals, the Pittsburgh City-County Building, the Corliss Tunnel, and many other municipal projects.[3]

Characteristics

The tunnel itself is characterized by twin bores of horseshoe cross-section, and bends halfway through. It also has a pedestrian walkway on the western side. Pghbridges.com reports that since the air draft flows toward the river, bicyclists are able to travel through the tunnel in that direction "with little or no effort."[3]

A legend mentioned by the site involves a notion that the bend in the tunnel was a mistake, and whoever was responsible committed suicide in shame.[3] Chief engineer Covell did not kill himself, invalidating this legend. Author Bruce S. Cridlebaugh suspects the bend was related to mines or other geological factors, property rights (including Duquesne University), or alignments with existing or proposed roads.[3]

Since August 1987 the tunnels have provided cellular phone reception.[4]

Name

The tunnels were named in honor of Joseph G. Armstrong, County Director of Public Works. Most of the bridges over the Pittsburgh's three rivers were replaced between 1910 and 1940, years which included Mr. Armstrong's terms as Mayor of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Commissioner.[3]

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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  3. Cridlebaugh, Bruce (April 12, 2000). "Field Notes: Armstrong Tunnels and South Tenth St". Pghbridges.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  4. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.

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