Big Walker Mountain Tunnel

The Big Walker Mountain Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia that carries Interstate 77 through/under Big Walker Mountain. It is located at coord|37|2.316|N|81|7.818|W|region:US_type:landmark_scale:300000|display=inline,title, a few miles south of the town of Bland and a segment of the Appalachian Trail, and about 20 miles (32 km) south of its longer cousin, the East River Mountain Tunnel. Both facilities share an unusual feature for vehicular tunnels in the United States—lane changes inside the tunnel are freely allowed.

The 4,229-foot (1,288 m) tunnel was first opened in 1972 after five years of labor. It carried a price tag of $50 million, which at the time was the most expensive single project undertaken on Virginia's interstate system. [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back0705.cfm] The opening of the tunnel reduced the travel time from Wytheville to Bland County by 30 minutes. [http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/info/Interstate50th/history.asp]

Preliminary engineering studies for the project were made by Brokenborough & Watkins, consulting engineers of Richmond, Virginia, and the final design of the roadway and tunnel was by Singstad & Kehart, consulting engineers of New York City.

Lane Restriction Controversy

In 2006, the Virginia Department of Transportation began a rehabilitation project that involves lane closures during the daytime. When the lanes are closed, wide loads over 12 feet wide are prohibited from using the tunnel. On June 21, 2006, West Virginia Congressman Nick Rahall asked that the ban be lifted, citing needs of West Virginia's manufactured housing industry. Rahall claimed that the ban raises issues arising under the commerce and takings clauses of the Constitution of the United States.Weekly updates on lane closures related to the project are posted by the Virginia DOT's Bristol District [http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/travel_alerts/bristol/default.asp] . The project is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2008.

References

* [http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935241&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188650299&path=%21news%21vaapwire Virginia asked to ease load restrictions in I-77 tunnels]
* [http://www.virginiadot.org/quick/bristol_quick.asp VDOT Bristol District Info]

External links

* [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I81_I77_VA.html Info about I-77]