If you remember my past post, The Tunnels I been through. The last time I was in a long tunnel was back in 1993 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 70 / 76). On January 29th, 2013, I got to take a trip of a lifetime to Pyeongchang South Korea for the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The The main highway (Expressway 50) that passes through Pyeongchang has 13 tunnels. I was fortunate to travel through all 13 tunnels while I was in South Korea.
Picture pulled from from Google Maps, Streetview.
This is the first tunnel I been through in the daytime on the Yeongdong Expressway (Expressway 50). This tunnel is located aproxmently 3 kilometers east of Expressway 1.
The portal of this tunnel is angled with the hillside.
The bus inside the tunnel. It's like riding on the subway
After exiting the tunnel, Let there be snow! Taking a look at the east portal of the westbound lanes.
The Tunnel Wall.
Approaching another tunnel around the bend
Apporaching the tunnel.
A secondary road crosses the highway above this tunnel portal
The westbound lanes are at a higher elevation while approaching this tunnel. On this bus ride between Asan and Pyeongchang, I traveled through 7 tunnels on Expressway 50.
This wall is plain concrete and no fancy tile work. This is one of the short tunnels on the Yeongdong Expressway.
This tunnel wall's tile work has a gray scale.
This tunnel's approach has cement arches that allows natural light.
Tunnel Wall, The Light at the end of the tunnel!
Many tunnel portals are angled with the hillside
A solid poured cement tunnel arch.
Many of these pictures of the tunnels were taken out a foggy bus window.
This tunnel is located approximately 1 kilometer west of Expressway 171 or 3 Kilometers west of Expressway 1 on the Yeongdong Expressway (Expressway 50). I passed through this tunnel enroute to the airport on February 6, 2013.
That's enough pictures of tunnels. Keep your ears to the tracks. I will have another post about Tunnels.
Tunnels made my stomach Cringe when my grandfather mentioned the word back in 1990. I was looking forward to that first trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. I wanted to go to Myrtle Beach, SC because my school teacher went there every year.
Yorkdale Service Tunnel
In 1989, my Grandfather took me to Yorkdale on business. During some spare time, he took me for a drive around the shopping centre and through the service tunnel. While in the tunnel, I said "We will come to the other side" over and over until emerging into the west parking lot. A few years later, my grandfather took me through the tunnel again.
East River Mountain Tunnel, I 77
Approach of East River Mountain Tunnel
In March, 1990, My Grandfather took me through the East River Mountain Tunnel en-route to Myrtle Beach SC. This is the first tunnel through a mountain ever. It was before dawn when I passed through the tunnel and I could not see anything. My Grandfather took a picture of the interior of the tunnel. The lights inside the tunnel in 1990 were white fluorescent. Freak Factor was minimal because of the brightness of the lights.
Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, I77 Virginia
This is the second tunnel my Grandfather took me through en-route to Myrtle Beach. When I passed through this tunnel, I could not see the faceade because it was before dawn. When I see a picture of the facade of the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, I think of piano keys. I nick name this tunnel the Piano Tunnel.
This is the third tunnel my Grandfather took me through en-route home from Myrtle Beach SC. My grandfather took a picture of the east portal of the tunnel in 1990. In 1991 and 1993, my grandfather took me through this tunnel every trip to Myrtle Beach. I passed through this tunnel five times. This tunnel is located on I 70 / 76 east of Pittsburgh PA.
Underpass Tunnels, Detroit, MI
Underpass Tunnel on Michigan Route 10, Alps Roads
In 1990, My grandfather took me through two tunnels en-route to the Detroit / Windsor Tunnel. These tunnels are located on Michigan Highway 10 (M-10). The first tunnel was a curved tunnel under a city block and the second tunnel was beneath the Cobo Centre. The Cobo Centre Tunnel had a freak factor because of the multiple amber lights on the wall as you approach the south portal. These tunnels warm you up for the Detroit/ Windsor Tunnel.
Detroit / Windsor Tunnel, Windsor, ON
In 1990, My grandfather took me through the Detroit / Windsor Tunnel en-route home after a vacation in Kalamazoo MI. The tunnel had amber lights and the freak factor was minimal because the shorter tunnels wamred you up before the long tunnel. This tunnel spans underneath the St. Clair River. On one occasion, I cringed when the traffic within the tunnel slowed down before emerging on the American side while en-route to Florida in 1992.
In 1992, my Grandfather took me to Orlando, Florida to see Universal Studios. En-route, I passed through a several short tunnels in Atlanta Georgia. these tunnels featured amber lights and created a mild freak factor because I have never been there before. You can find some pictures of the Atlanta Tunnels on here
In, 1995, My Grandfather took me on a special trip through the Thorald Tunnel while during a Niagara Falls trip. When my Grandfather took me through this tunnel, the tunnel featured Amber Lights and white flourescent lights.
In August 2005, At a Special Olympics Track Meet, I travelled through this tunnel four times between Brock University and the Track / Field Venue. On that day, the highway was only reduced to one lane each direction and the traffic was only using one tube. During that trip through the tunnel, the lighting was changed to all Amber Lights.
Bachman Tubes / East Ridge Tunnel, Chattanooga, TN
In 1995, My Grandfather took me through these tunnels twice while taking a drive around one day in Chattanooga, TN. After passing through these tunnels, there was an awsome castle playground a few miles east of the tunnel. The Freak-Out Factor is minimal because you can see the light at the other end of the tunnel as you approcah.
Everywhere you go, there is something out there to scare or freak you out. The scary stuff you may encounter during a car ride may include tunnels, automatic car washes, or steep hill signs.
The Car Wash
Why is the Car Wash Scary? If you have been through an automatic car wash, you will know the common scary moments.
1. The Darkness.
Some of the older car washes were windowless and you cannot see outside.
2. The Brushes
The sound of the cloth brushes whipping against the side of the car.
Car Wash Story of 1987
In 1987, I went to the Clean Plus Car Wash, 166 Davis Drive, Newmarket, Ontario for the first time. The colour of the car wash at the time was a brown coloured brick building. While approaching the tunnel, I did not know what this place is. The blue curtain was swaying from side to side and the car slowly crept towards the darkness. Once I see the light at the end of the tunnel, the car was stuck for a moment in. Alma said, "The car is having a bath." I looked out the window, I thought the car was sitting inside a giant bath tub. A few weeks later, I returned to the same car wash, and the Blue brushes gave a freak out. Once I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, I thought the same thing was going to happen again. The car just exited the car wash. Upon exiting the car wash for the second time the freak factor was reduced.
Shell Station , 166 Davis Drive, Newmarket, ON
Tunnels
An overpass tunnel on Michigan Highway 10, Detroit MI
Why are Tunnels Freaky?
Tunnels can be freaky because of the sudden change from light to dark. You will be glad when you see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are two freak Factors
Light Patterns and Colours
Many of the newer tunnels on highways feature the freaky Amber light. Amber light creates a transition between the light outside to tunnel driving.
The darkness is the main freak out factor of tunnels.
Steep Hill Sign
Why is the Steep Hill Sign freaky?
If you are driving around in an unknown area and you come to a Steep Hill sign, your stomach may cringe because there may be a tunnel at the base of the steep hill.
Locations of Steep Hills
Robert Moses State Parkway (104), Lewston, NY
Interste 77, West Virginia. There are several steep hills while travelling southbound towards the Virginia Border. The East River Tunnel marks the border between West Virgiinia and Virginia.
You will see a steep hill sign in any mountainous regions
