Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Question: What tunnel located west of Denver is not only the longest mountain tunnel in North America, but also the highest vehicular tunnel in the United States?

Answer: The Eisenhower Tunnel, also known as the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is located on Interstate 70, approximately 60 miles west of Denver. It traverses the Continental Divide at an average elevation of 11,112 feet. When originally opened in the 1970s, the tunnel was not only the highest vehicular tunnel in the US, but at that time it was also the highest in the world. Since then, higher tunnels have been built across the globe.

Carved through the solid granite of Loveland Pass, the tunnel spans 1.7 miles, earning its place as the longest mountain tunnel in North America.