Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

A vehicle enters the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel,
North America’s longest combined rail-highway tunnel. Photo credit

Frequent contributor Bruce read yesterday's post on Whittier Alaska and commented that he'd passed through the tunnel there and sent me a link to more information. The tunnel is North America’s longest combined rail-highway tunnel and is the only way to get to Whittier by land. It is just 16 feet wide and 2 1/2 miles long and has a single lane shared by both rails and cars. It is closed at night. Rail and road traffic are coordinated by two computer systems which control the timing of vehicles entering the tunnel, spacing them for safety, and lower railroad gates when a train is approaching. Cars heading to Whittier are allowed every half hour while cars leaving Whittier can enter the tunnel every hour. In between regularly scheduled passenger trains are also accommodated.  Inside the tunnel there are several "safe-houses", which are small buildings that are used in case of severe earthquakes, vehicle fires, or other emergencies.

Tunnel control operator Daniel Gutierrez monitors traffic from 60 video cameras
at the tunnel control center. All tunnel operators are also firefighters trained
to respond to an accident inside the 2.5 mile long tunnel. Photo credit

The 2.5 mile long tunnel has eight safe houses, which can provide refuge
during an emergency. Photo credit

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Thanks Bruce!