Washburn Tunnel

Sandy: 28th Jul 2005 - 11:47 GMT

I remember going to and from work each day and praying there wasn't an accident or stalled car inside the tunnel.

Chet Cuccia: 19th Jan 2007 - 00:03 GMT

I never been through this tunnel, but the inside looks just like the old Baytown-LaPorte Tunnel.

Pat: 4th Feb 2007 - 14:25 GMT

Are there any tunnels in this area that are still active?

Rudy: 30th Jul 2007 - 14:46 GMT

Built in 1950, The Washburn Tunnel is the only operational underwater vehicle tunnel in the state of Texas. The Baytown Tunnel was demolished several years ago for the construction of the Fred Hartman Bridge (SH 146) in Baytown. As of Feb. 1, 2007, cameras are being used to monitor traffic use in the tunnel for possible structure changes that may need to be made in the future because of its age.
http://www.co.harris.tx.us/comm_garcia/WashburnTunnel.aspx
This is an in-depth article about the tunnel and what it takes to operate it. Enjoy!

Rudy: 30th Jul 2007 - 14:50 GMT

By the way, I have lived only 5 miles from this tunnel for 38 years, and it still gives me chills to drive through it. Not because of fear, but because it's amazed me that such a tunnel of its age could still be fully operational. It's a short drive through it, but always an amazing experience!

PJ Rock: 30th Aug 2007 - 02:35 GMT

I drive through this tunnel every day, every week! Awesome marvel!

PJ

Craig: 15th Sep 2007 - 03:07 GMT

I had a motorcycle wreck in 1980 coming out of the south side of the tunnel.
Back then the entrance and exit to the tunnel were paved in cobblestone, which is very slippery, especially if wet and mixed with all of the oil on the road!!!
Anyway, as I was exiting the tunnel on the south side going into Pasadena I slid over on the cobblestone and tore the ass end out of my Levi's and wrecked the left side of the bike. Oh yeah, I scraped my left elbow also.
Luckily it was about 11pm and nobody was behind me.

mario de j,: 1st Oct 2007 - 01:38 GMT

I go thru the tunnel to work 2 times a day,and before i go across I pray to God nothing bad happen.It is narrow and old.It needs to be replace for an update and new structure before something bad happen!

Liz October 27th 2007: 27th Oct 2007 - 19:48 GMT

I kive a good 15 minutes from the tunnel and have been going through through the tunnel all my life. As a child we went through it every Sunday to see my grandparentsand it is still awesome.

Galen J: 14th Nov 2007 - 02:11 GMT

I drove through this tunnel hundreds of times beginning in the mid 1950's. It always amazed me how AM radio stations would immediately go off once you hit the entrance. Driving a motorcycle through it in the 60's was indeed a challenge. You had to drive down right or left side of the lane. If traffic stopped and you were at the bottom, the car fumes in those days were terrible. Washburn tunnel = good memories.

Jane Biggers: 31st Dec 2007 - 21:15 GMT

I will never forget this tunnel when going thru it to my visit my brother and his family for years. I was in awe and yet it held an unknown terror of mystery within its enclosure, and I prayed no wreck or engine failure would occur while in it or to happen up on another misfortune within the tunnell's tomb....

anon (adsl-70-248-238-43.dsl.hstntx.sbcglobal.net): 24th Jan 2008 - 20:42 GMT

I was born in Houston, Texas in 1952 and growing up I would ride with my grandfather to take my grandmother to work through the Washburn Tunnel. But I never knew it was under water until I spoke to my mom who now lives in Arizona. I was shocked. If I had known this when I had to take my grandson to a football training camp this past summer, I don't think I would have gone through it. Its a scary but fasinating thought. It makes me think of how Moses parted the red sea. I am a part of history!

Annette.

L.Barry: 26th Feb 2008 - 01:26 GMT

I have drove through it many of times because it was a handy route to go instead of the Ship Channel Bridge. It was far better than that Dark and dingy old Baytown tunnel which I always hated to drive through it. Thank Goodness they replaced it with that bridge.It took them long enough waiting for that South African steel to arrive, them were the days.

Rudy: 19th Mar 2008 - 17:55 GMT

FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE - March 18, 2008:
As of April 14, 2008, large trucks with more than two axles will no longer be allowed to travel through the Washburn Tunnel. Lately, large trucks often scrape the sides or top of the tunnel, knocking off tiles. The daily debris picked up by tunnel personnel includes mirrors, pieces of metal and sometimes even furniture that have done damage to other vehicles, and have costed thousands of dollars to repair the tunnel.
If you are interested in reading the full article from the Houston Chronicle, this is the link to the page: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5631308.html
Just copy and paste into your browser, and find out more information on this latest development concerning the infamous Washburn Tunnel!

james r manuel: 11th Apr 2008 - 08:51 GMT

My Dad worked as an electrician on the when it was built.

Diane Ferguson: 28th Apr 2008 - 14:49 GMT

I haven't driven or riden through the tunnel in many many years, First went through it as a child of 4 yrs. right after it was opened... I was in awe each time we went though it. Mom would tell us how much water was above us...

Jesse RED D ARC: 25th Sep 2008 - 17:14 GMT

TUNNEL CLOSED BK OF HURRICANE (IKE). HOPE IT RE-OPENS DRIVEN DAILY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

Gail Miller : 26th Sep 2008 - 18:23 GMT

Hi, I oversee the tunnel and the ferry for Commissioner Garcia and we look forward to opening the tunnel back up asap. We are cleaning debris and checking the electricals and moving as quick and safely as possible. The Tunnel just went on the National Register this year and we are very proud of it.

Michelle: 2nd Oct 2008 - 21:14 GMT

Does any one know if the tunnel is open yet. Or When it will reopen.

Rudy: 5th Oct 2008 - 17:45 GMT

If anyone would like to read a short notice about the closing of the Washburn Tunnel and a photo of what the tunnel looked like with the water coming up to one of the entrances, go to this page:
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/work_progressing_at_washburn_t.html
A very eerie picture indeed.

julio: 6th Oct 2008 - 13:36 GMT

when will the tunnel reopen need escape from traffic on 225

Rudy: 7th Oct 2008 - 19:02 GMT

As of this posting, no other information is known to the schedule for when the tunnel will be re-opened. I phoned the commissioner's office that handles the tunnel operations and she told me that no exact date has been established because repairs are still on-going. She informed me to watch the news later this week or into next week and if they do schedule a reopening date, the media will report the information to the public. But I do know the hassle of it being closed, because I have to go over the Ship Channel Bridge to 225 just to get to somewhere just on the other side of the tunnel. Normally it's only about 5 miles...now my trip is about 8 to 10. So stay tuned to the media for updates, or I will post it here when I find out! Until then, remember the jokes that would go around after a heavy rain..about "the tunnel being underwater"? It's no joke now! :P

Rudy: 25th Oct 2008 - 03:55 GMT

Just to let everyone know, the Washburn Tunnel will be opening up tomorrow, October 25, at 5:30 AM!! YAY! So now you don't have to take the long way around. I'm glad to see it open back up, and I am happy to know that it was not ruined beyond repair. All the electrical wiring has been replaced, and the surveillance cameras have been repaired, and the entire tunnel has been cleaned of all debris. Good luck to everyone, and happy traveling through the Washburn Tunnel once again!

james: 3rd Nov 2008 - 04:32 GMT

wish you could actually see the water that was over your head!!!! Then that would make the ride even better :))

James Kingsmill: 8th Dec 2008 - 18:59 GMT

Built in 1950, The Washburn Tunnel is the only operational underwater vehicle tunnel in the state of Texas. The Baytown Tunnel was demolished several years ago for the construction of the Fred Hartman Bridge (SH 146)

The tunnel was demolished AFTER the Fred Hartman Bridge openened.

Manuel: 8th Dec 2008 - 20:07 GMT

I am the only person (AFAIK) who was actually born inside the tunnel. Thats right, January 3, 1966... when my parents got caught in traffic due to a road repair on the way to the hospital. If anyone can beat that, let me know, but I think I hold the title of Only Person Ever Birthed in the Washburn Tunnel.

Patrick: 9th Feb 2009 - 05:28 GMT

I am about to do a 67 mile bike ride next week from Kingwood to Galveston that will take me through the tunnel...if you hear about a cyclist that got turned into a red smear on the tiles, I'm your man :P

Rudy: 25th Feb 2009 - 23:06 GMT

Because the Washburn Tunnel is very narrow, they will not allow pedestrians or bicyclist to make their way through the tunnel. If you're a walker, you will have to "thumb" a ride in someone's car. If you are a bicyclist, you will have to do the same, but get a truck so you can toss your bike in the back. One other rule for inside the tunnel is to NOT honk your horn if it's not necessary. The vibrations from the horn sound can damage the tiles inside. I don't see how they can make this a rule, when you already have massive noise from vehicle traffic. They used to have a rule to turn your lights off as you go through to avoid blinding oncoming drivers, however because of the growing number of vehicles that now have the "daytime" running lights, they threw this rule out. Good luck on your bike ride...but...you may have to try out your strength by riding up the Houston Ship Channel Bridge if you can't go through the tunnel! (Eat a good breakfast that morning!! HAHA)

Dick from Frogholler Iowa: 28th Jun 2009 - 17:10 GMT

I have driven through the baytown tunnel many times from 1964 to 1993. We lived in League City. We watched the new bridge being constructed. My son and I would walk up to the end during construction on a weekend and sit on the end and let our legs dangle over the ship channel. I have vidoes of being there then. The two towers were over 400 feet high I believe. I wanted so bad to see the bridge finnished but retired from NASA in 1993 and returned to Iowa. But I got to see the approaches built right up to the ship channel. I always wondered how they removed the tunnel and would liked to have seen that. I had an idea of how to do that. Seal both ends water tight. Fill the tunnel with ping-pong balls which would make it float. Then tow it out to deep water and sink it.

Mrs. Robinson: 31st Jul 2009 - 15:23 GMT

I remember traveling through a tunnel at night with two lanes each direction back in the late 80's on a motorcycle wiht my brother over to the Hobby Airport area to see a friend. Then about a month ago a friend directed me that away to Pasadena in my van and I must confess that was the scariest moment to me. I had never drove that away alone. I am just glad it was daylight at the end of the tunnel. (:-).

Annette: 4th Sep 2009 - 04:37 GMT

I remember being very pregnant with my daughter in March of 1972. I would be traveling from Channelview to Pasadena to the hospital for her birth. I heard that the tunnel would be closed for cleaning at midnight on March 14th and hoped I didn't go into labor that night. Sure enough I did and my husband and I got to the tunnel and a police officer had to escourt us through.