Driving in tunnels
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 2
From: Portsmouth, VA
Driving in tunnels
I was just on the interstate a few minutes ago and went through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. It's a bridge/tunnel system that connects the South Side of Hampton Roads to the Penninsula, specifically Norfolk to Hampton. The tunnel itself is a mile long, measured it with my odometer just to be sure.
Well I got into the tunnel and was doing 55, just going right along which is very unusual for this tunnel it's usually bumper to bumper for miles. Then I look in my rear view mirrior and notice the guy behind me has traffic backed up about 1/4 - 1/2 mile behind me. Maybe it's because I'm young and have driven through tunnels all my life but I don't get why people slow down to 35 - 40mph when they are in a nice wide tunnel. I could see if it was really narrow or something but come on, it's no different then staying in your own lane on the interstate.
- Chris
Well I got into the tunnel and was doing 55, just going right along which is very unusual for this tunnel it's usually bumper to bumper for miles. Then I look in my rear view mirrior and notice the guy behind me has traffic backed up about 1/4 - 1/2 mile behind me. Maybe it's because I'm young and have driven through tunnels all my life but I don't get why people slow down to 35 - 40mph when they are in a nice wide tunnel. I could see if it was really narrow or something but come on, it's no different then staying in your own lane on the interstate.
- Chris
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,340
Likes: 4,363
From: SW VA
I love tunnels! I actually find myself speeding up in them...usually going about 10 over at the exit. (oops) In fact, tonight I drove through the airport tunnel (a tunnel thats under a couple of runways) which is about a mile long
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 936
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From: Texas
I've never been in a tunnel before untill I became a truck driver. My first ever tunnel was somewhere in the mountains of Virginia. Or was it W. Virginia? I forget.
Anyways, that scared the crap out of me! First time ever in a freakin tunnel and I'm in a 13'6" tractor with a loaded 56' trailer, in the mountains no less (my first time ever driving in mountains too). Now that was a freakin white knuckle ride.
Since then I've gone through that same tunnel once, one near Mobile, AL, and the twin tunnels in Wyoming quite a few times. They dont bother me much anymore but I still like blowing my air horn in them
BTW, mountains dont bother me much anymore either.
Anyways, that scared the crap out of me! First time ever in a freakin tunnel and I'm in a 13'6" tractor with a loaded 56' trailer, in the mountains no less (my first time ever driving in mountains too). Now that was a freakin white knuckle ride.
Since then I've gone through that same tunnel once, one near Mobile, AL, and the twin tunnels in Wyoming quite a few times. They dont bother me much anymore but I still like blowing my air horn in them
BTW, mountains dont bother me much anymore either.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,490
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From: CT
I love going through tunnels, I just go faster, roll down all my windows so I can hear the exhaust crank and shake the tunnel. The first "real" tunnel I was in was the Chesapeake bay Bridge/Tunnel. That was cool, we went there for a trip last year, and I just went faster in the tunnel. The bridge was even better, you could not even see land anymore, just water. The only "big" tunnel here in CT that I can think of is the one in New Haven on the Merritt Parkway. Ahhh, I need a vacation again 
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
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From: Cloverdale, BC
One of the coolest trips I ever took through a tunnel was with my buddy in his 5.0 Mustang. It was late, about 11:30 or so, in the summer. He had the sunroof off. Anyway, we're listening to the exhaust for about 3/4 of the way through when we hear this weird noise. Kind of like a low pitch hum that was progressively getting louder and higher pitch. We're thinking it's the car, so we look at each other. As we were about to say WTF, wiwww, wiwww, wiwww, wiwww. Four guys on crotch rockets FLY by us like we were going backwards. And there weren't no way they were getting caught either. At least not in a Mustang.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
I love the echo in the tunnels, but I don't like driving in them, a lot of people don't know how to drive, and in a confined area like that where you have no where to go to dodge if they were coming at you, kinda makes you nervous. If there were only good drivers on the road, that would be a different story, but yeah, don't see that happening anytime soon. Other than the nervousness of what someone else is going to do, I love em
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 208
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From: SC Coast
Been thru the tunnels on I-77 in WV several times when I was driving OTR for a living. Loved blowing the air horns in there.LOL
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
In my old Toyota, I would downshift to fourth or even third, and let the glasspack do it's thing. In my 84, I would just step on it, or if it was a long downhill and I was loaded down, I would just elt it roll until it started backfiring. The thing sounded like a shotgun going off, but in one tunnel, it kept doing it, and sounded like a twin 50cal going off for a few second straight. Of course that day I was pushing almost 12,000lbs between the truck and trailer.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 594
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From: Wetumpka, Alabama
My motorcycle broke down on me once while I was in the MIDDLE of the Fort Pitt tunnel in Roethlishburg PA (Pittsburgh)!!
This just happened to happen on a Friday afternoon right before rush hour traffic! Those of you familiar with Pittsburgh will know that the at the end of the mile long tunnel is a 3/4mile BRIDGE!
I ended up PUSHING my motorcycle about 1.5 miles and caused a MASSIVE traffic tie up! It was pretty embarrassing as I exited the tunnel and then on to the bridge... I look up and see the WTUE traffic HELICOPTER hovering just over the bridge!
What a day that was!
This just happened to happen on a Friday afternoon right before rush hour traffic! Those of you familiar with Pittsburgh will know that the at the end of the mile long tunnel is a 3/4mile BRIDGE!
I ended up PUSHING my motorcycle about 1.5 miles and caused a MASSIVE traffic tie up! It was pretty embarrassing as I exited the tunnel and then on to the bridge... I look up and see the WTUE traffic HELICOPTER hovering just over the bridge!
What a day that was!
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,428
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From: Summit, NJ
Wow, having to push that motorcycle all the way through that tunnel and then having a news chopper outside waiting for you.. how embarrasing! 
I've been through the tunnels in PA several times heading out to the midwest. We also have the tunnels to NYC that I go through every now and then. I guess you could also count the train tunnels I go through.. 2 in the morning, and 2 in the evening.
Once in a while I'll put the windows down.. definitely cool to hear the exhaust now and then..
I've been through the tunnels in PA several times heading out to the midwest. We also have the tunnels to NYC that I go through every now and then. I guess you could also count the train tunnels I go through.. 2 in the morning, and 2 in the evening.
Once in a while I'll put the windows down.. definitely cool to hear the exhaust now and then..
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2002
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From: Fraziers Bottom, WV
Here in WV we have a number of abandon railroad tunnels that you can walk through. Some are on abandoned lines and others are on public trails. Walking them is a fun way to spend a day and get out and exercise and see history.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Central VA
Originally Posted by Ford_Six
In my old Toyota, I would downshift to fourth or even third, and let the glasspack do it's thing.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Central VA
Originally Posted by 5_labsownus
Here in WV we have a number of abandon railroad tunnels that you can walk through. Some are on abandoned lines and others are on public trails. Walking them is a fun way to spend a day and get out and exercise and see history.