Zion Tunnel Day

Above, the east entrance to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In light of all that's going on these days, it is easy to forget that there are some positives that are worth mentioning.

Today is Zion Tunnel day, which commemorates a marvel of engineering of Utah's Zion National Park.

The St. George News posted:

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. 

To this day, the tunnel is the state of Utah’s as well as the National Park Service’s longest underground highway passage. Taking three years to complete between 1927-1930, the whole project cost approximately $1.5 million – $503,00 f0r the 1.1-mile tunnel and $937,00 for the connecting highway – 3.5 miles of switchbacks west of the tunnel and and 8.5 miles of road east of the tunnel to the park’s east entrance. The state spent approximately $500,000 for the 16.5 miles of road leading from the park’s east entrance to Mt. Carmel Junction.

Above, approaching the east entrance to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

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