Tunnel Roads
By:CocoAppleStore
Recently, I visited Christiansburg, Virginia for a historical story opportunity with Norfolk Southern Railroad. They are in the process of upgrading 28 tunnels on a route between Hampton Roads, Chicago, and Virginia so they can accommodate double-stacked railcars. The tunnel I visited was originally built between 1911 and 1919, The cap of its concrete liner have been removed but it was replaced with rock bolt reinforcements and concrete to the exposed rock to accommodate the double-stacked cars. This distinct tunnel is the longest on the route at 0.6 miles.When I went inside, I saw heavy equipment working double time and I also saw the work in progress. I walked back and forth along its length. I also discovered that carved it was carved through a small mountain with about 180 feet of dirt and rock over my head. It was totally dark and it kinda scared me. The Only visible light were from the light the seeped through the entrances of the tunnel and the flashlight that i brought along with me.