Reconstruction of the Initial 400 Ft of the Spiro Tunnel-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dan Escobar of Harrison Western describes the rehabilitation of a historic mining tunnel in Park City, Utah. Begun around 1900 for mining and dewatering, the tunnel later served as a skier subway before becoming a major water source, supplying about 35% of the city’s municipal water.<br /><br />The project stabilized the first 400 feet, including a partially collapsed portal, unstable ground, and a junction where two tunnels meet. Crews excavated and reinforced the hillside with soil nails, installed temporary and permanent tunnel supports, replaced the bulkhead, and built a new vault and piping system to direct water either to treatment or local streams.<br /><br />Construction involved oversized cavities, difficult ground, and repeated flooding after falling rock crushed a buried pipe. The team adapted its support and pipe-protection plans to keep work safe and maintain water control. The portal was rebuilt with drainage and architectural finishes that reused historic tunnel timbers, preserving the site’s character while improving its function.

Keywords

Park City tunnel rehabilitation

historic mining tunnel

water supply infrastructure

soil nailing stabilization

tunnel portal reconstruction