I’ve driven through the Dean Lindsay Memorial Tunnel on Interstate 10 in Phoenix more times than I can count. A few months ago, I was driving into the tunnel and noticed a large gate and what appeared to be an entrance to another tunnel next to the entrance. What could it be?
This giant testament to structural engineering hides a secret, and it’s hiding under the feet of the citizens of Phoenix. What is it, and why is it there? Let’s take a closer look.
A Little About the Deck Park Tunnel in Phoenix
According to Wikipedia, the Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel, or Deck Park Tunnel, as it is more commonly known, is a “vehicular underpass built underneath Downtown Phoenix. It was built as part of Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona.”
The “tunnel” is actually a series of 19 side-by-side bridge overpasses divided into two tubes. Each has five one-way lanes and two emergency lanes running alongside it. Each tube can carry up to 16,000 vehicles per hour.
Origins Of A Big, Weird Idea
Back in the 1980s, Phoenix planners were feeling bold. To improve the traffic flow on Interstate 10, they designed this beautiful tunnel, but they didn’t stop there…