Currently the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel has been closed for construction since October 20. The tunnel will is scheduled to reopen at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, October 30.
This morning we had the rare opportunity to go inside the tunnel to take photos of the renovation work being done.
We thought we would bring you eight quick facts about the tunnel itself and the work being done.
1. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel has been in operations since November of 1930.
This is the 87th year in operation for the tunnel. The tunnel was formerly dedicated by President Hoover on November 1, 1930. The tunnel opened to the public two days later on November 3.
2. Our tunnel is pretty special. It is the only tunnel where you can get to another country via underground tunnel by car.
The tunnel is considered a great engineering wonder around the world, and it is still thought of as one of the most important border crossings between the United States and Canada.
3. The construction being done on the tunnel used no tax dollars.
The $21.6 million renovation project is being paid for by Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Borderlink tolls.
4. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel renovation project is in the final phase, and the estimated time of completion is June of 2018.
The $21.6 million renovation project is being paid for by Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Borderlink tolls. Which means there were no tax dollars spent on this project.
5. The tunnel needed to be closed for this portion of the construction because Toebe Construction will be removing and replacing 48,000 square feet of concrete in the ceiling.
If you have ever been inside the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel then you know that there is not a lot of extra room down there. Because of the nature of this type of renovation it was safer to close the tunnel.
6. The construction being done is on the 1/2 mile section of the tunnel that is under the river.
The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is roughly a mile long. The underwater portion of the tunnel is flanked by a quarter mile approach from Detroit and Windsor.
7. The tunnel will still be closed in the evenings until the construction is completed in June.
The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will be closed from 8:00 p.m.-5:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
8. If you are worried about holiday travel, the tunnel will remain open for specific days.
The tunnel will be open Thursday, November 23 through Sunday, November 26 and Saturday, December 23 through Monday, January 1, 2018.