>>> EVERYBODY HATES THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS.

>> YES, THEY DO.

AND THEY SHOULD.

I HATE THEM AS WELL.

>> UNLESS THE TRAFFIC IS FLOWING.

AND IT'S NOT RUSH HOUR.

THEN THEY'RE OKAY.

>> WELL, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM, YOU'D HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND.

>> THERE'S NO DENYING SOME OF US SLOW DOWN AS WE APPROACH, THEN WE ALL HAVE TO SLOW DOWN.

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OFFICIAL STUDY, BUT THE REALITY IS IF YOU SEE A BRAKE PEDAL, YOU'RE GONNA HIT YOUR BRAKE PEDAL.

>> BUT THESE TUNNELS WERE NECESSARY TO HELP PITTSBURGH HANDLE INCREASING TRAFFIC IN THE MID-20th CENTURY.

THE SUBURBS EAST OF THE CITY WERE GROWING FAST, AND EVERYBODY SUDDENLY HAD A CAR AND WANTED A QUICK WAY INTO TOWN.

>> IN THOSE DAYS, YOU COULD RIDE IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK.

AND I WOULD RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.

IN THE WINTERTIME, YOU'D DRIVE IN, IT WOULD BE WARM.

>> IN 2013, THE TUNNELS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN TO ONE LANE SOME NIGHTS, AND ON CERTAIN WEEKENDS, ONE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC HAS BEEN DETOURED ALL WEEKEND, SO BIG CHANGES CAN BE MADE.

>> THE JOB STARTED MARCH OF 2012, AND IT'S SCHEDULED TO GO THROUGH JULY OF 2014.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT SOME HISTORY OF THE TUNNELS.

AND WE'LL RIDE THROUGH A TIME OR TWO.

IT'S THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS ON "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF".

THIS PROGRAM PREMIERES ON JUNE 5, 2013, THE DAY THE TUNNELS TURN 60 YEARS OLD, BUT WE EXPECT THE PROGRAM WILL LIVE ON IN REPEAT BROADCASTS AND ONLINE, AND THE TUNNELS WILL PROBABLY SEE MANY MORE YEARS AS WELL.

>>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927, AND BY PNC, CELEBRATING PITTSBURGH'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AT THE PNC LEGACY PROJECT EXHIBIT IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH.

>> OKAY.

FIRST OFF, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS, BUT ACTUALLY THEY ARE JUST PART OF THE SUPERHIGHWAY SYSTEM KNOWN ORIGINALLY AS THE PENN-LINCOLN PARKWAY.

NOW MOST PITTSBURGHERS CALL IT THE PARKWAY EAST, BUT IF YOU KNOW THE OLD ROUTE 22 OR THE WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY AND ROUTE 30, THE OLD LINCOLN HIGHWAY USED TO COMBINE IN WILKINSBURG AND BE PRIMARILY A TWO-LANE ROUTE INTO PITTSBURGH, YOU MIGHT IMAGINE HOW CONGESTED THAT WOULD BE.

A SUPERHIGHWAY TO THE EASTERN SUBURBS WAS WHAT WE NEEDED BACK IN THE LATE 1940s, AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT WORK, WE APPARENTLY NEEDED A TUNNEL.

>> WELL, IT WAS THE CONNECTING PIECE OF THE PARKWAY EAST, AND IT WAS JUST A GATEWAY TO THE EAST, BASICALLY.

>> BILL LESTER IS A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR PENNDOT, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HE KNOWS SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE PENN-LINCOLN PARKWAY.

IT WAS ENVISIONED AND PLANNED FOR MANY YEARS.

AS EARLY AS THE 1920s, CITY PLANNERS AND LEADERS WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE EASILY DOWNTOWN FROM THE EASTERN SUBURBS, WITHOUT DESTROYING THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN BETWEEN.

A TUNNEL WAS A LOGICAL CHOICE.

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO COME THROUGH THE HILL.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY PURSUED OPTIONS OF MAYBE OPEN CUT AND COMING THROUGH, BUT THEY WERE AFRAID THAT THEY WOULD DISCONNECT THE COMMUNITY AND THE LARGE PURCHASE OF RIGHT OF WAY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FINISH, OPEN CUT THE ROADWAY WAS NOT FEASIBLE AT THAT POINT OF TIME.

>> WE ALSO TALKED WITH DAN CESSNA, WHO'S THE PENNDOT EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF THIS PART OF THE STATE, WHAT THEY CALL DISTRICT 11.

HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THESE TUNNELS.

>> WELL, I AM A PARKWAY EAST COMMUTER.

I LIVE IN CHURCHILL AND TRAVEL TO WORK IN THE SOUTH HILLS, SO I DEAL WITH THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS EVERY DAY.

WHAT'S UNIQUE FOR PENNDOT, WE'RE THE ONLY DISTRICT OUT OF THE 11 DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE TUNNELS, SO IT'S A UNIQUE PART OF MY JOB THAT NONE OF MY COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE.

AND IT WAS PART OF A GRAND VISION OF CONNECTING DOWNTOWN TO MANY PLACES EAST EARLY, YOU KNOW, MID-CENTURY.

>> DIGGING THE TUNNEL UNDER PART OF SQUIRREL HILL STARTED SEPTEMBER 7, 1948, TUNNELING FROM THE EASTERN END TOWARD TOWN.

IT WAS A BRUTAL JOB, MUCH OF IT BLASTING THROUGH SOLID ROCK.

ROOF CAVE-INS WERE A BIG PROBLEM.

THREE WORKMEN DIED -- TWO IN A ROCKSLIDE.

THE PASSAGEWAY BROKE THROUGH TO THE FORWARD AVENUE END ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1949, JUST OVER A YEAR AFTER IT WAS STARTED.

WORK WAS INTENSE, BUT PITTSBURGHERS ALREADY KNEW THAT AUTOMOBILE TUNNELS COULD BE REALLY USEFUL IN THIS TERRAIN OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

>> LIBERTY WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE.

IT WAS FIRST.

IT WAS BUILT IN THE '20s.

>> HI, TOM.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> TOM DIDDLE IS TUNNEL MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOUR STATE-OWNED TUNNELS AROUND HERE.

>> LIBERTY IS THE LONGEST ONE.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER A MILE.

IT'S LIKE 5,300 FEET.

>> ACTUALLY, FROM 1924 UNTIL 1927, THE LIBERTY TUNNELS THAT WENT THROUGH MT.

WASHINGTON TO THE SOUTH HILLS WERE THE LONGEST AUTOMOBILE TUNNELS IN THE WORLD.

BUT HORSES AND PEDESTRIANS WERE ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH TOO IN THE EARLY YEARS, AND THE WALKWAY ALONG ONE SIDE WAS THERE UNTIL 1975.

ENGINEERS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT TUNNEL VENTILION FROM WORK DONE HERE WHERE HUGE FANS ON TOP OF MT.

WASHINGTON BRING FRESH AIR DOWN INTO WHAT WERE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED "THE TUBES."

THE FACADES ON THESE TUNNELS HAVE CHANGED MANY TIMES, AND WONDERFUL RECENT WORK TO RESTORE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE ENTRANCES HAS THE TUNNELS LOOKING A BIT LIKE A DARK RIDE AT KENNYWOOD, WHICH IS OKAY.

IN THE LATE 1940s AND EARLY '50s, CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION ON THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED.

NOT ONLY WAS THERE THE BLASTING AND BORING AND THE FINISHING OF THE TUNNELS, BUT THE STRUCTURES ON BOTH ENDS HAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED TO HOUSE THE VENTILATION AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT.

THEY ARE UTILITARIAN BUILDINGS.

>> THEY'RE VERY SIMPLE, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I MEAN, IT'S A -- YOU KNOW, A STONE EXTERIOR, KIND OF LIKE HOW THEY BUILT BUILDINGS AT THE TIME.

NOTHING ELABORATE OR FANCY ABOUT IT.

>> THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL HAS A SANDSTONE FACADE BECAUSE THE TUNNEL WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR II, AND, YOU KNOW, UNITED STATES WAS STILL IN THAT CONSERVATIVE MODE.

SO, THEY DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT ANY TRAFFIC PLANNER AT THAT TIME COULD HAVE ENVISIONED OR IMAGINED THE FLOW THAT WOULD COME THROUGH THERE, THE NUMBER OF CARS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 102,000 CARS A DAY ON AVERAGE ON A WEEKDAY THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE TUNNELS.

THERE'S 80,000 MOTORISTS A DAY THAT TRAVEL THROUGH ON THE WEEKENDS.

>> THE TUNNEL IS 4,225 FEET LONG, SO IT'S JUST LITTLE SHORT OF A MILE.

>> AND ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE, AS YOU HEAD INBOUND, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING UPHILL.

>> FROM THE MONROEVILLE SIDE TOWARD THE CITY, I THINK THERE'S A 2.5% GRADE, WHICH IS WHAT SLOWS THE TRUCKS DOWN, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE THAT GRADE.

IF YOU'RE OUT IN OPEN AIR, YOU CAN SEE YOU'VE GOT A GRADE, YOU PUSH HARDER ON THE GAS.

IN HERE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING UPHILL.

SO, THE TRUCKS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING UPGRADE.

>> THE NICE THING IS THE TUNNEL WALLS ON THE INSIDE WERE TILED.

THAT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO CLEAN AND KEEP MAINTAINED VERY NICELY VERSUS THE CONCRETE SURFACE INSIDE THE LIBERTY TUNNEL, WHICH IS MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO KEEP CLEAN.

THE TILE WAS DEFINITELY AN ENHANCEMENT IN THIS TUNNEL.

>> WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE TUNNEL, WE ALSO MET KEVIN HEILMANN, WHO'S THE PROJECT MANAGER IN CONSTRUCTION FOR THE REHABILITATION WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

HE KNOWS SOME OF THE SURPRISES AROUND HERE TOO.

>> COMING OUTBOUND, WHEN YOU EXIT, THERE'S A BRIDGE, COMMERCIAL STREET BRIDGE, THAT YOU COME ONTO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT'S THERE, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE TUNNEL VISION COMING OUT.

THEY SEE THE OPEN LIGHT, PFFT, THEY'RE GONE.

>> THE COMMERCIAL STREET BRIDGE IS A LONG BRIDGE WITH REALLY NICE CONCRETE ARCHES UNDERNEATH.

>> THIS IS A REINFORCED CONCRETE, OPEN-SPANDREL DECK ARCH.

IT HAS THREE MAIN SPANS, EACH 170 FEET LONG.

THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE BRIDGE IS PROBABLY RIGHT AROUND 846 FEET.

ALL IT IS IS A SCALED-DOWN VERSION OF THE WESTINGHOUSE BRIDGE.

IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF BRIDGE.

>> SO, THAT'S THE BIG BRIDGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TUNNEL THAT WAS BEING BUILT AT THE SAME TIME.

ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE'S ACTUALLY AN UNSEEN BRIDGE AS YOU'RE EXITING THE TUNNEL.

THE EARTH AT THIS END WAS SUCH THAT THEY HAD TO BUILD A SMALL BRIDGE STRUCTURE TO BRING THE TUNNEL ROADWAY OUT, SO IT COULD CONNECT TO A BIGGER BRIDGE OVER FORWARD AVENUE.

SO, AS YOU EXIT EITHER END OF THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE CROSSING TH BRIDGES DRIVING IN OR OUT OF THE CITY OF BRIDGES.

THESE BRIDGES AND ALL THE INTERCHANGES ON THE HIGHWAYS AT EITHER END, ALL WERE HUGE ENGINEERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE TIME.

ALL PART OF THE PITTSBURGH RENAISSANCE BEING GUIDED AND COORDINATED BY THE ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE IN MANY PARTS OF THE CITY.

THE INITIAL PIECE OF THE PENN-LINCOLN PARKWAY COVERED NINE MILES FROM CHURCHILL IN THE EAST TO THE BOTTOM OF BATES STREET IN OAKLAND, WHERE FOR A WHILE IN ENDED ABRUPTLY RIGHT BESIDE ONE OF THE GIANT J&L STEEL MILLS ALONG THE MONONGAHELA.

WHILE SOME PARTS OF THE ROADWAY WERE OPEN EARLIER, YOU REALLY COULDN'T USE THEM TO FULL EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 5, 1953, WHEN THERE WAS A BIG OPENING CEREMONY WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE TAYLOR ALDERDICE HIGH SCHOOL BAND, LOTS OF POLITICIANS AND THE FIRST CAR CAME THROUGH THE TUNNELS INBOUND.

WHEN THESE TUNNELS AND THE PENN-LINCOLN PARKWAY WERE NEW, THEY WERE MARVELOUS TO MANY.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS DUBBED PITTSBURGH'S "LITTLE DREAM HIGHWAY," "THE MOST MODERN OF ROADWAYS" AND A "HIGHWAY OF TOMORROW."

NO ONE BOTHERED TO RECORD WHEN THE FIRST TRAFFIC BACK-UP OCCURRED.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE TV STATION IN TOWN IN 1953, AND TRAFFIC REPORTERS IN HELICOPTERS HADN'T BEEN INVENTED YET.

NOW THEY TRY TO HELP US EVERY MORNING.

AND ONE BRIGHT MORNING, WE WENT OUT TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AND MET OUR FRIEND SAM HALL, WHO'S WTAE CHANNEL 4'S TRAFFIC REPORTER.

>> I GET HERE ABOUT 5:45 ON A NORMAL DAY.

AND MARK, MY PILOT, MARK O'NEIL, NORMALLY HAS THE CHOPPER ALREADY UP AND FIRED UP IN THE WINTERTIME, HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT WARMED UP, THEN WE JUMP IN.

AND DEPENDING ON THE PILOT, IT CAN BE A LITTLE SCARY.

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH MY CURRENT PILOT.

>> SO, THESE GUYS PAY ATTENTION TO DAILY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

>> THE FIRST ONE MIGHT BE OUT ON THE PARKWAY EAST.

YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S REALLY THE NUMBER ONE SPOT WHERE TRAFFIC STARTS TO BACK UP FROM THE TUNNEL, ALL THE WAY BACK PAST SWISSVALE-EDGEWOOD TO CHURCHILL VERY, VERY QUICKLY, STARTING AT 6:00 A.M.

THE PARKWAY EAST IS THE ROADWAY, EVEN IN FOLKS THAT RIDE ONLY ON THE PARKWAY WEST WHO KIND OF SCRATCH THEIR HEAD ABOUT THIS, BUT THE PARKWAY EAST STARTS WAY EARLIER THAN THE PARK WEST, AND THE BACK-UPS ARE MORE IMMEDIATE THAN THE PARKWAY WEST.

I THINK WITH THE PARKWAY EAST, THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL, YOU CAN'T AVOID IT, IF YOU LIVE OUT THERE, YOU GOTTA USE IT.

YOU CAN AVOID THE LIBERTY TUBES, YOU CAN USE THE WABASH, YOU CAN GO UP OVER THE MOUNTAIN, YOU CAN USE THE PARKWAY WEST, YOU CAN USE BANKSVILLE.

YOU CAN'T AVOID THE PARKWAY EAST, THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS, IF YOU LIVE OUT IN YOU KNOW THAT PART OF THE CITY.

THE PROBLEMS ARE GONNA BE WITH THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS EVERY MORNING.

>> WE ASKED SAM TO GET US A SHOT THAT WOULD SHOW WHAT'S ON TOP OF THE TUNNEL.

>> I COMPLETELY CONTROL THE CAMERA.

THE CAMERA IS BASICALLY ATTACHED TO A LAPTOP COMPUTER THAT SITS ON MY LAP THAT I KIND OF MANIPULATE ALMOST LIKE A VIDEO GAME.

IT DOES SOME AMAZING THINGS.

>> ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK AND SHOP AND GO TO SCHOOL UP HERE.

THERE ARE SOME BIG STREETS.

>> BEECHWOOD BOULEVARD.

THAT SQUIRREL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S QUITE AN INTERESTING NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT HAS A LOT OF CHARACTER, A LOT OF HISTORY TO IT.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.

BUT IT KIND OF RESTS HERE PEACEFULLY.

>> THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE OVER A TUNNEL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BORED UNDERNEATH, AND THEY GO ABOUT THEIR LIVES WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE TUNNEL.

>> WE'VE NEVER FIELDED ANY COMPLAINTS FROM ANYBODY FROM SQUIRREL HILL THAT SAID, "HEY, WE COULD HEAR YOUR TRAFFIC IN THE TUNNEL."

>> IT'S THE SAME THING AT FORT PITT AND LIBERTY.

THERE'S WHOLE COMMUNITIES ON TOP OF THE TUNNEL THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WE'RE THERE.

>> BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH THERE, YOU MAY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT SAM HAS TO SAY ON CHANNEL 4 ABOUT THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL.

>> WELL, IT'S CONSISTENTLY SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.

YES, THERE ARE MORNINGS WHERE IT'S LIKE, AW, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON, ESPECIALLY VERY EARLY, YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS TO COME THROUGH.

WHAT'S FUNNY IS THAT I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT AS A TRAFFIC REPORTER, THERE'S NO VOLUME ON THE CITY SIDE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE SLOW-DOWNS, ONCE YOU GET THROUGH THE TUNNEL, CLEAR RIGHT UP.

NOW YOU OPEN UP AND YOU GET THREE LANES ONCE YOU GET DOWN, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GETTING OFF AT OAKLAND.

BUT THE MINUTE YOU GET THROUGH THE TUNNELS, YOU'LL NEVER SEE A BACKUP ON THE CITY SIDE OF THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, IF THE TUNNELS WERE THREE LANES, AND TRAFFIC GOT DOWNTOWN FASTER, THERE WOULD JUST BE MORE TRAFFIC JAMS AS PEOPLE TRY TO APPROACH THE CITY.

SO, THE TUNNELS ACTUALLY KIND OF METER TRAFFIC HEADING INTO DOWNTOWN.

WHEN YOU GET INTO DOWNTOWN IN THE MORNING, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A TON OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

SO, YOU KNOW THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO THAT, BUT NOBODY LIKES SETTING IN TRAFFIC, WASTING TIME BECAUSE YOU CAN SET FOR 45 MINUTES SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING DEPENDING HOW FAR YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE MONROEVILLE DIRECTION.

>> THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY WE SLOW DOWN EITHER WAY HAS LONG BEEN A POPULAR TOPIC OF SPECULATION AMONG PITTSBURGHERS.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST HUMAN NATURE.

YOU SEE THAT MINIMIZING OF YOUR VISION AND YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO TAP THOSE BRAKES AND SLOW DOWN.

I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENS.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT SURE IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A BAD THING BECAUSE SLOWING DOWN FOR THE TUNNELS IS ONE THING.

STOPPING BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL, AND THAT'S WAY WORSE.

>> WELL, A LOT OF IT, THEY ARE CONCERNED.

THEY ARE DRIVING INTO A CLOSED SPACE, THE MORE WE KEEP IT LIT, THE QUICKER THEY DO DRIVE THROUGH, BUT IT'S JUST A PERSONAL THING WITH PEOPLE.

AND YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THAT MANY PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN.

ONCE YOU GET A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT HESITATE, THAT BACKS UP THE TRAFFIC, WHICH SLOWS DOWN EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> IT'S INSTINCTUAL BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO REAR-END THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> SO, IT'S NOT AS BAD AS A LOT OF OTHER PLACES.

IT IS BAD FOR RUSH HOUR, BUT IN SOME TOWNS IT'S THAT WAY 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> IF I'M GOING TO THE STUDIO, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TUNNELS EVERY MORNING.

THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF SINGLE-LANE, BUT IT'S ALSO 4:30 IN THE MORNING.

AND THAT'S THE BEST TIME TO GO THROUGH THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL IN EITHER DIRECTION.

4:30 IN THE MORNING.

YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A DELAY.

>> IF EVERYBODY CAME THROUGH AT 4:30, THEN THAT WOULD CREATE A PROBLEM AT 4:30.

>> MANY OF THE MOST HATED DELAYS AND DETOURS OF 2013 HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BIG REHABILITATION PROJECT THAT INVOLVES PEOPLE FROM WALSH CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER CONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS FOLKS FROM MICHAEL BAKER JR.

ENGINEERING, WHOSE FOUNDER HAD HELPED DESIGN THE ORIGINAL PENN-LINCOLN PARKWAY PROJECT BACK IN THE '40s, ALONG WITH MANY OF THE REGULARS FROM PENNDOT.

>> WE DO REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF THE TUNNEL, AND QUITE HONESTLY, TUNNELS SHOULD BE ON ABOUT A 30-YEAR RENOVATION SCHEDULE, AND THE TUNNEL IS GONNA BE 60 YEARS OLD, SO WE'RE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE WITH THE SECOND RENOVATION.

THE LAST ONE WAS COMPLETED IN 1983.

>> THEY'RE NOT IN BAD SHAPE FOR THE AGE THAT THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE READY FOR SOME WORK.

THEY NEED SOME TOUCHING UP.

>> TO INCLUDE NEW LIGHTING, VENTILATION, ELECTRICAL, COMMUNICATION, EMERGENCY -- >> THIS IS A REHABILITATION PROJECT, AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF COMING IN AND DOING SOME BRUSHING UP AND CLEANING UP.

WE ARE IMPROVING THE VENTILATION AND PRESERVING THE TUNNEL FOR THE FUTURE.

>> IT STARTED IN 2012.

IT'S GONNA GO ALL THROUGH 2013 AND THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2014.

SO, IT'S OVER ABOUT TWO-YEAR PERIOD.

IT INVOLVES UP TO 16 WEEKEND CLOSURES -- 8 IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION, 8 IN THE WESTBOUND -- AND IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE, AS FOLKS MIGHT KNOW, WEEKNIGHT CLOSURES FROM ABOUT 10:00 P.M.

TILL ABOUT 5:00 A.M., SINGLE-LANE, SO YOU CAN STILL TRAVEL THROUGH.

YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THERE.

>> THE ELECTRICAL WORK IS DONE ACTUALLY ABOVE, BEHIND THE SCENES.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN SEE IT HAPPENING.

>> THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF CHANGES AND UPGRADES GOING ON.

ONE FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN MID-APRIL 2013, WE TOOK OUR CAMERAS TO GET THESE SHOTS OF THE OUTBOUND TUNNEL WITH ITS ORIGINAL FLAT CEILING.

FOR 59 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OR SO, THIS IS WHAT THE TUNNELS LOOKED LIKE.

WE STOPPED BY THE NEXT DAY TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> BASICALLY TODAY WE'RE REMOVING THE CEILING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TUNNELS.

IT'S GONNA BE A DRAMATIC CHANGE FOR MOTORISTS.

IN FACT THE CEILING HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE WESTBOUND TUNNEL.

IT'S BEING REMOVED FROM THE EASTBOUND TUNNEL TODAY.

THE SEQUENCE FOR THE PROJECT ITSELF IS, IS WE HAVE COME IN AND WE BREAK A BIG HOLE INTO THE TOP OF IT JUST FOR A STARTING PLACE.

>> AT THE WESTERN END OF THE EASTBOUND TUNNEL, BILL LESTER AND KEVIN HEILMANN OFFERED US A LAST CHANCE TO GO UP AND STAND ON TOP OF PART OF THE OLD CONCRETE CEILING WHERE NEW STEEL BEAMS HAD ALREADY BEEN PUT IN THAT REINFORCE THAT END OF THE TUNNEL.

THE CEILING, WHICH IS THE FLOOR HERE, WOULD SOON BE REMOVED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE GAPING HOLE INTO THE TUNNEL.

>> ON EACH END OF THE TUNNEL THERE'S A CUT-AND-COVER SECTION OF THE TUNNEL WHERE WE ACTUALLY EXCAVATED OUT AROUND THE AREA.

WE BUILT THE TUNNEL AND THEN BACKFILLED OVER TOP OF IT.

SO, WHEN WE REMOVE THE CEILING, WE BASICALLY ARE REMOVING THE SUPPORT TO THOSE WALLS SO WE HAVE TO PUT THE STEEL BEAMS UP IN THERE AND PUT THEM ACROSS TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CEILING.

>> BUT THAT'S JUST AT THE ENDS OF THE TUNNELS.

>> THE MAIN LENGTH OF THE TUNNEL, THE CEILING'S ONLY SIX INCHES THICK.

IT'S A DROP CEILING HUNG BY STAINLESS STEEL HANGERS.

THEY POKE HOLES UP WITH A HAMMER, HOE RAM, TO GET AN OPENING, THEN THEY BRING IN A "MUNCHER" WE CALL IT, AND IT STARTS JUST MUNCHING AWAY AT THE -- FROM THE OPENING, TAKING THE, WHAT WE CALL THE TYPE-ONE SIX-INCH-THICK CEILING OUT.

>> THE MACHINE LOOKS LIKE A DINOSAUR.

>> IT'S AN EXCAVATOR WITH A PROCESSOR.

IT'S A CONCRETE PROCESSOR.

AND IT GOES UP AND BASICALLY GRABS THE CONCRETE AND PULVERIZES IT.

IT'S BEEN CALLED THE TYRANNOSAURUS REX.

IT'S BEEN CALLED THE PULVERIZER.

THERE'S A LOT OF NAMES THAT GET TOSSED AROUND.

>> THE CRUNCHER IN FACT ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH WITH A SERIES OF BLADES AND ACTUALLY CUTS AND PULLS OUT PIECES OF THE CEILING.

IT'S NOT A REAL SCIENTIFIC APPROACH.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY SHARP.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW IT GRIPS AND PULLS AND TUGS.

>> THE CEILING IS ABOUT FOUR TO SIX INCHES THICK.

IT'S NOT A REAL DIFFICULT TYPE OF CEILING TO REMOVE.

>> ONCE THE MAIN PART'S DONE, WE COME IN WITH A SMALLER PROCESSOR AND NIBBLE AWAY THE SIDES.

AND WE NIBBLE AS CLOSE TO THE WALL AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> THEY GET IT AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN TO THE TUNNEL WALL.

AND THEN THEY BRING IN THE OTHER HAMMERS THAT THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY CHIP AWAY THE OVERHANG PIECES.

THEN THEY GET THE TORCHES AND THEY CUT THE REINFORCING STEEL OFF.

SOME OF THOSE PIECES ARE HELD IN BY THE NUMEROUS REBAR, REINFORCEMENT STEEL THAT'S IN PLACE WHICH THEY HAVE TO THEN CUT THAT OUT TO HELP DROP THE PIECES OF CONCRETE, AND THE ONGOING WORK IS ALONG THE EDGES.

THEY HAVE TO TRIM UP, CUT THE STEEL, GET THE LOOSE PIECES OFF SO IT'S SAFE FOR TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING.

>> IF WE DIDN'T NEED THAT OLD DROP CEILING, WHY WAS IT THERE?

>> THE DROP CEILING WAS SO THAT THEY COULD CREATE A PLENUM OR AN AIR DUCT.

AND THEN THE FAN HOUSES UP ABOVE PUMPED THE AIR DOWN INTO THE PLENUM OR THE AIR DUCT AND THEN THAT GETS PUSHED THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

IT WAS THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIME.

WE'VE FOUND OUT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER IF WE REMOVE THE PLENUM AND JUST PUSH THE BIG GUSH OF AIR THROUGH.

IT ACTUALLY DOES A BETTER JOB.

ONCE WE REMOVE THE CEILING, WE WILL JUST BE PUSHING AIR FROM, IN THIS CASE, FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST.

IT GOES IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.

>> THERE'S LESS CARBON MONOXIDE BECAUSE OF THE BETTER VEHICLES THAT WE'RE MAKING.

>> IN THE TIME WHEN THIS WAS BUILT, IN THE 19 -- LATE '40s, 1950s, FOR THE AIR-FLOW TECHNOLOGY, IN FACT THE CEILING HELPED MOVE THE AIR THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

THE FAN SYSTEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY ARE MUCH MORE MODERN AND ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT THE NEED FOR THAT CEILING, SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF STUDIES ON AIRFLOW ANALYSIS AND KNOW THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE SAME AIRFLOW WITHOUT THE CEILING.

AND IT INCREASES VERTICAL CLEARANCE BY SEVERAL FEET.

SO, MOTORISTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN TRUCKS HAD SNOWPACK ON TOP, IN THE FUTURE WE HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE IN FACT, THERE'LL BE AN ADDITIONAL FOOT OF CLEARANCE.

SO, IT'S A DRAMATIC CHANGE.

BECAUSE NOW RATHER THAN SEEING A FLAT LEVEL CEILING, THEY SEE AN ARCH, BARREL SHAPE.

SO IT'S A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.

>> AND THERE ARE CONDUITS THAT RUN THE LENGTH OF THE TUNNEL UP THERE.

>> THAT'S ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE LIGHTS, FOR THE CO-MONITORING SYSTEM.

THERE WILL BE HEAT DETECTORS, SMOKE DETECTORS, AND THOSE ALL TRANSFER BACK TO A COMPUTER SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT ALL THOSE ARE.

>> THE ORIGINAL TILE WAS MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE REPLACEMENT TILE WE HAD TO GO TO GERMANY TO GET THE QUALITY OF TILE THAT WE NEEDED.

>> THOSE ARE ACTUALLY A FIRE PROTECTION ALSO.

BECAUSE THOSE KEEP THE HEAT FROM GETTING TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE TUNNEL ITSELF.

AND THEN WHEN THOSE GET SO HOT, THEN THEY ACTUALLY POP OFF, WHICH THEN COOLS THE WHOLE THING BACK DOWN.

>> THIS TILE, AS MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS ACTUALLY AMERICAN OLEAN TILE THAT WAS MADE IN LANSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ORIGINALLY.

AND THAT WAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST, BEST QUALITY TILE THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

THAT PLANT UNFORTUNATELY IS NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE.

AND I ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WORKED THERE.

NOT WHEN THIS TILE WAS CREATED, BUT MY AUNT WORKED FOR THAT COMPANY FOR 43 YEARS, AND MY UNCLE WAS, WORKED THERE FOR OVER 20.

THEY'RE VERY DIRTY.

THIS TUNNEL HASN'T BEEN CLEANED VERY WELL BECAUSE IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

YOU KNOW THERE MAY BE A LITTLE MORE DETERIORATION, BUT IN FACT WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE ALL THE BAD TILE.

AND THEY'VE CHIPPED OUT WHERE THEY NEED TO PLACE IT.

THEY'RE DOING WALL REPAIRS BEHIND THE TILE.

AND THEN THE NEW TILES WILL HAVE TO BE AFFIXED.

>> CLEAN OR NOT, THE WALLS HAVE SOME NEW CONCRETE BUMPS TOO.

>> THE BUMPS ON THE WALLS.

THEY'RE CALLED "BLISTERS."

THEY WILL HOUSE THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND PHONES IN CASE THAT THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.

>> IN SUCH CASES, OFTEN BOTH LANES OF THE TUNNEL WILL BE SHUT DOWN BY THE TUNNEL'S STAFF.

>> WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF OF ABOUT 60 PEOPLE, A COUPLE PEOPLE IN EACH TUNNEL THAT ARE HERE TO ASSIST MOTORISTS IF THERE'S ANY ACCIDENT, INCIDENT.

PEOPLE RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE TUNNEL, PEOPLE BREAK DOWN IN THE TUNNEL, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THAT ACTIVITY THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO CARE FOR THOSE MOTORISTS.

AND OUR STAFF IS VERY DEDICATED TO DO THAT.

AND THEY'RE HERE DURING THE TUNNEL REHAB AND THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE AFTER IT'S OVER.

>> WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE PEOPLE THERE FOR ALL THREE SHIFTS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> WHEN THIS TUNNEL RENOVATION'S COMPLETED, WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS INSIDE THE TUNNEL TO ASSIST THEM IN MONITORING TRAFFIC, KNOWING IF THERE'S AN INCIDENT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKER.

>> ALSO FOR EMERGENCIES, THERE ARE, OF COURSE, THE PASSAGEWAYS WITH DOORS THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK LEAD TO A THIRD PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL BETWEEN THE TUNNELS.

>> THERE'S NOT A TUNNEL THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE TUNNEL.

IT'S AN ESCAPE PASSAGEWAY AND WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR, YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> IF THERE'S AN INCIDENT, OR AN ACCIDENT INSIDE THE TUNNEL, THE TUNNEL WILL BE SHUT DOWN.

THOSE CROSS PASSAGEWAYS WOULD BE USED TO GET THE PEOPLE FROM THE SIDE WHERE THE ACCIDENT IS TO A SAFE SIDE.

>> WE MIGHT HOPE FOR FEWER ACCIDENTS BECAUSE EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS BETTER IN THE REHABBED TUNNELS.

>> LIGHT IS GONNA CHANGE DRASTICALLY.

IT'S BEING UPGRADED TO HIGH-PRESSURE SODIUM LUMINEERS.

CURRENTLY THIS IS ALL FLUORESCENT LIGHTING.

THE NEW LIGHTING WILL BE PUT IN PLACE AND THEN TURNED ON.

AND THEN WE WILL COME DOWN AND STRIP ALL THE OLD LIGHTING OFF OF THE WALL.

IT'S GONNA BE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.

THE LIGHTS ARE MOUNTED HIGHER INTO THE ARCH OF THE CEILING, SO NOW YOU'LL HAVE MORE OF A DOWNWARD-TYPE LIGHTING RATHER THAN FROM THE SIDES.

AND THEN WITH LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL LOOK, IT'LL BE IMPRESSIVE.

>> BUT YOU KNOW NOT ALL THE WORK ON THIS PROJECT IS INSIDE THE TUNNELS.

>> WE'RE DOING SOME STRUCTURAL REPAIRS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE TUNNEL, AND CLEANING UP THE FACADES.

>> WE'RE ALSO GONNA DO SOME WORK ON THE COMMERCIAL STREET BRIDGE BEHIND US.

DOING SOME OF THE EXPANSION DAM REPLACEMENT.

EXPANSION DAM IS THE AREA ON THE BRIDGE DECK THAT GIVES THE BRIDGE A CHANCE TO MOVE.

IT'LL EXPAND AND CONTRACT WITH THE TEMPERATURES.

WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME WORK ON THE BRIDGES OUT BY EDGEWOOD-SWISSVALE, WHICH WILL BE THE EXPANSION DAM REPLACEMENT.

ACTUALLY WORK IS GOING VERY WELL.

IT'S -- WE SEEM TO BE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF WORK DONE.

>> WE'RE KIND OF PLEASED WITH THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS.

>> BUT THE WORK CONTINUES, AND ALTHOUGH SOME FOLKS SEE THESE TUNNELS ONLY AS A PROBLEM, ALL THIS WORK MAY MAKE THEM SEEM A BIT BETTER.

>> NAH, WE DON'T SEE THEM AS A PROBLEM.

WE LIKE THEM.

IT'S PART OF OUR DISTRICT.

>> TUNNELS ARE UNIQUE TO PITTSBURGH FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE NICE ENTRANCES TO OUR CITY COMING THROUGH THE FORT PITT, LIBERTY AND SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS, AND IT GIVES US A LOT OF NOTORIETY.

>> I ENJOY TAKING CARE OF THE TUNNELS AND KEEPING THEM OPEN, SO THAT THE PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL THROUGH, AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THEM OPEN.

WE OPEN THEM AS QUICK AS WE CAN, AND EVERYBODY HERE WORKS TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

>> EVEN GROWING UP AS A KID, THE TUNNEL WAS ALWAYS HERE.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALIZED YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH.

AND YOU JUST GET USED TO THEM.

YOU LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM, BUT YOU GET USED TO THEM.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

IT'S NOT QUITE THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

YOU REMEMBER THAT SHOT OF THE FIRST CAR COMING THROUGH THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS WHEN THEY FIRST OPENED?

A CADILLAC.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT PICTURE, PROBABLY SOMETIME IN 1990s.

I WAS READING OR DOING RESEARCH ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, AND I SAW THAT PHOTO, TAKEN BY THE FAMOUS PITTSBURGH PHOTOGRAPHER CLYDE HARE.

AND I NOTICED THE DATE -- JUNE 5, 1953.

I'LL TELL YOU IT'S REALLY ODD WHEN YOU'RE DOING RESEARCH TO SEE YOUR OWN BIRTH DATE ASSOCIATED WITH A HISTORICAL EVENT.

BUT THERE IT WAS.

I WAS BORN JUNE 5, 1953.

I WAS BORN THE DAY THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNELS OPENED.

IT'S PRETTY COOL.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES SINCE THEN I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF BEING BORN AS I EXITED THE TUNNEL.

AND SINCE I REALIZED THE CONNECTION, I'VE HAD A SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR THESE MUCH MALIGNED OLD TUNNELS.

WE'RE EXACTLY THE SAME AGE, AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE BOTH TURNED 50, BUT I DID NOTHING, SO HERE WE ARE AT 60, AND I'VE NOW WALKED THROUGH THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE TUNNEL, AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.

AND I THOUGHT I OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE BIRTHDAY OF THIS IMPORTANT LINK IN OUR LOCAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

SO, I BROUGHT A CAKE.

60 CANDLES.

AND I FIGURED I'D SHARE IT WITH ALL THE GUYS WORKING ON THE TUNNELS.

AND I'LL WISH EVERYONE MANY HAPPY PASSAGES, INBOUND AND OUTBOUND, WITHOUT TOO MUCH TRAFFIC IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

>>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927, AND BY PNC, CELEBRATING PITTSBURGH'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AT THE PNC LEGACY PROJECT EXHIBIT IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH.