Detroit River Railroad Tunnel
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The Detroit River Railroad Tunnel is a subaqueous tunnel that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the U.S., with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada, under the Detroit River. This tunnel was one of the first major applications of the immersed-tube method for subaqueous tunneling. This method involves prefabricating long tube sections, towing them to the site, sinking them in a dredged trench, and connecting them. This technique was chosen for the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel to avoid the high costs and risks associated with operating a shield under high air pressure. The Detroit River itself forms part of the boundary between Michigan and Ontario and connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. The river is a busy waterway for both pleasure craft and Great Lakes shipping.12
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tunnels and underground excavationsSubaqueous tunnels…its present form on the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario (1906–10). A prime advantage is the avoidance of high costs and the risks of operating a shield under high air pressure, since work inside the sunken tube is at atmospheric pressure (free air).
Read More…its present form on the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario (1906–10). A prime advantage is the avoidance of high costs and the risks of operating a shield under high air pressure, since work inside the sunken tube is at atmospheric pressure (free air).
Read More- tunnels and underground excavationsDevelopment of method
…the construction (1906–10) of the Detroit River twin-tube railroad tunnel between Detroit, Mich., and Windsor, Ont., where it was successfully used for the 2,665-foot river-crossing portion. A structural assembly of steel tubes was prefabricated in 262-foot-long sections with both ends temporarily bulkheaded or closed. Each section was then towed out…
Read More…the construction (1906–10) of the Detroit River twin-tube railroad tunnel between Detroit, Mich., and Windsor, Ont., where it was successfully used for the 2,665-foot river-crossing portion. A structural assembly of steel tubes was prefabricated in 262-foot-long sections with both ends temporarily bulkheaded or closed. Each section was then towed out…
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