Welcome to the Roadscapes Wednesday segment! Each week here on Geek Alabama, Roadscapes Wednesday will feature roads and infrastructure related topics. Geek Alabama Editor / Publisher Nathan Young is often called the “road geek” for a good reason, Nathan loves roads and loves talking about roads!
Today we’re kicking off a new series on the channel: Engineering the Impossible. In this episode, we’re heading deep under the Continental Divide to explore how Colorado carved the highest vehicular tunnel in the entire Interstate System — the Eisenhower and Johnson Tunnels on I-70.
Drilled through more than 11,000 feet of mountain, this project pushed 1960s and 70s engineering to its limits. From unstable rock formations and brutal winter conditions to political battles and cost overruns, the story of these tunnels is one of the most ambitious undertakings in American highway history. And even with its billion-dollar equivalent price tag, it still stands as one of the great bargains in the Interstate era.
Along the way, we’ll look at early routes over Loveland Pass, the decisions that shaped I-70’s alignment, the hard lessons learned underground, and the massive hidden infrastructure that keeps the tunnels running safely today. It’s a remarkable example of the history that hides in plain sight — and why these roads continue to move us.
Categories: Roadscapes Stuff
