Most of the 25 thousand plus motorists who travel through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel don't realize that death, at any moment, was just around the curve on old U.S. Hwy. 25E. There were so many deaths that local officials gave the former highway the misnomer of “Massacre Mountain.” It is ironic that the local public now wants increased speed limits while twelve and more years ago, they called for a slower speed and more police patrols.
“If the drivers would obey the speed limit and keep a safe distance between them and the vehicle in front of them, there would never be a problem. Basically, if they obeyed the traffic law there would be no problem. In a tunnel we don't have shoulders. We do have a solid line down the middle with all the signs instructing the drivers to stay in lane. Yet, every day we see people changing lanes. It would be simply safer if they would obey the traffic law,” said John Burke, Cumberland Gap Tunnel Manager.
The speed limit through the tunnel is set by the Federal Highway Administration, and not locally.
“When the tunnel opened on October 18, 1996 there were 18,000 vehicles per day. The official count in 2004 was 25,400, that is quite an increase and we believe the count is quite a bit more now,” said Burke. The 2004 count is the latest official count by the government.
Traffic is expected to increase considerably when the U.S. 25E highway widening to four lane is completed.
“The completion of U.S. 25E from Corbin, Kentucky to Morristown, Tennessee, that will be a direct four lane connection, which will further increase traffic,” Burke stated.
Lee County officials said they have noticed an increase in traffic as Highway 58 is widened.
Burke says 31,308 hazardous material vehicles pass through the tunnel each year. Seventy percent or about 21,916 vehicles are local gasoline tanker trucks.
One of the tasks performed every six weeks, some believe is unique to the tunnel, but is not. Burke says the tunnel has one side closed each six weeks so workers can clean the walls of exhaust fumes and other traffic material. That is done late at night as there is less traffic and wide loads, by law, have to be parked at dusk.
While the crumbling pavement of old U.S. 25E has been removed, in the park, the historic Wilderness Road has been restored.
Today visitors can hike in the footsteps of the pioneers. The forest is beginning to emerge and the deer plentiful, it is hard to image where the highway once was. This restoration of the historic corridor has been made possible by construction of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel.
The staff of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel and the National Park Service is inviting the public to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the tunnel. A photo exhibit and video presentation will be showcased at the park visitor center through Sunday, October 22.
The actual anniversary date is October 18 and numerous activities have been planned including:
* A special video presentation of a film produced by the Federal Highway Administration which will be shown in the visitor center auditorium at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
* Guided hikes along the restored Wilderness Road, departing from the Thomas Walker parking area at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
* A reception to be held in the visitor center auditorium at 2:30 p.m.
* Free 10th Anniversary post cards for the first 1000 visitors.
C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
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