why was the tunnel constructed, any idea?
The older route of US 80 over Mule Pass provided a dangerous obstacle for vehicles heading into Bisbee.
U.S. Route 80 in Arizona
the older route of US 80 over Mule Pass (also known as the Old Divide) provided a dangerous obstacle for vehicles heading into Bisbee. It was a common occurrence for large trucks to lose their brakes on the steep grades, resulting injury and in worst cases, death. Furthermore, winter snowfall and ice made crossing the Old Divide sometimes impossible. Plans had been in place since the 1930s to replace the treacherous route with a tunnel. By the 1950s however, US 80 still utilized the Old Divide routing with no tunnel having been constructed.
which places do u.s. route 80 in arizona connect? From the California border in Yuma to the New Mexico state line near Lordsburg. when was it started? November 11, 1926 was any tunnel constructed here? Yes, the construction of the Mule Pass Tunnel can you give a very brief description of this route? Within the state of Arizona, US 80 made two indirect loops to both Phoenix and Douglas, and the odd shape created by the two "loops" gave US 80 a long length through the state of Arizona.
wiki:20482833
U.S. Route 80 in Arizona [SEP] Construction of the Mule Pass Tunnel
The outcome of the suit would determine the legality of the contract. On March 5, 1957, the court ruled the contract was legal, despite being over budget. When financial issues were settled, the state of Arizona ended up paying for 28 percent of the cost, with the remainder being reimbursed by the Federal Government. Initial work on the tunnel itself began on January 9, 1957 with excavation work commencing on the Bisbee end of Mule Pass. By August 10, the construction crews were excavating an average of per day. This broke the world record of most earth excavated by a drilling machine per day, breaking the previous record of set in Australia.