Zion Tunnel, A Marvel of Engineering

Above, the approach to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel from the east. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The St. George News in Utah has an interesting article on Zion National Park's Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel as part of their "day" article series. Today is their "Zion Tunnel Day".

It begins with:

FEATURE – In today’s political and environmental climate, there is no way it could be built, but back in the 1930s the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel through Zion National park was considered both an engineering marvel and a much-needed transportation link. 

The Zion Tunnel has stood as a monument to engineering resolve and interagency cooperation since its completion in 1930. Not only was it a boon to the local economy by bringing in more tourists, but it also provided a vital thoroughfare between Washington and Kane counties and literally opened up a whole new world by offering access to east Zion with its different formations and wildlife than found in Zion Canyon via the park’s south entrance.

“The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel has to be one of the great examples of cooperation in the creation of Utah’s tourism infrastructure,” said Zion National Park Forever Project Executive Director Lyman Hafen, also an aficionado of local history, in an email to St. George News. “Obviously, there was a real ‘can-do’ spirit that pervaded not only Utah, but the whole country in the mid 1920s, and most folks in southern Utah were supportive of building roads and connecting the relatively new national parks.” 

In fact, the road and tunnel project were not approved until it was certain Bryce Canyon would be designated a national park. 

Before the tunnel’s construction, any visitor to Zion had to approach the park from the southwest and, once there, it was a dead end. Drivers had to return the same way they came.

My daughter Amber and I were the "lead vehicle" in The Beast three years ago through the tunnel. Large vehicles have to be escorted though the tunnel. Traffic in the opposite direction is held until the escorted vehicles complete their drive-through.

To read more, go here.