About The  
  Project  

The Heroes Tunnel consists of two 1,200-foot-long horseshoe-shaped barrels, carrying two lanes of Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15) traffic in each direction through West Rock Ridge.

The Heroes Tunnel carries approximately 77,300 vehicles daily. The Heroes Tunnel is the only highway tunnel to pass beneath a natural land feature in the State of Connecticut and is eligible for listing on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The Wilbur Cross Parkway is a vital connector between New York and Hartford, as well as an alternate expressway route to Interstate 95 and 91.

The Heroes Tunnel was featured in the 1958 romantic comedy, “Tunnel of Love,” starring Doris Day and Richard Widmark. It was dancing legend Gene Kelly's directorial debut.

Structural, geometric and drainage deficiencies have been identified within the Heroes Tunnel, and require either rehabilitation or replacement.

The Department of Transportation and CDM Smith conducted studies of potential approaches, and summarized their findings in the June 2016 Alternative Construction Options Study Report Supplement.

Deficiencies of the ventilation system, fans, electrical distribution system, fire detection system, fire protection system, emergency communications system, and traffic signs have also been identified.

A maintenance project to address these deficiencies is currently in the Design Phase.

A tunnel liner study and traffic capacity analyses are being conducted and will be used to further advance the Environmental Assessment document.