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Location DB >
United States >
Texas >
Dallas >
The Deep Ellum Tunnel
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Publically Viewable |
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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Two underground concrete highway tunnels (below grade underpass) with four lanes of traffic and a pedestrian walkway about 350 feet long
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Type: Tunnel
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: varies
Recommendation: forget it its gone
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debris, fall hazards, panhandlers
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Solid old school concrete construction with abundant steel reinforcement Cool murals by some local artists, close encounters with bums which some may find interesting
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fences construction security driving a light green pick up with W on the side 24/7, maybe DART security now too
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The Good Latimer Expressway tunnel(s) has been labled a landmark and gateway to the trendy art and music district of Dallas called Deep Ellum. Deep Ellum got its name from the local inhabitants mis-pronunciation of the word elm, as in Elm Street. The area became a mecca for blues and jazz followers during the 1920s and 30s with several well known venues and neighborhood bars. When that music died so to speak, the area became run-down and ugly. Just so many blocks of abandoned warehouses, machine shops and dingey little factories. In the 1990s "urban revitalization" was all the buzz and a new generation of music lovers helped put Deep Ellum back at the top as a hip if not slightly grundgey night life and entertainment destination. Originally this tunnel was just a two lane underpass of State Hwy 559 and the Texas & Pacific Rail Road. The narrow somewhat hazardous expressway was widened to four lanes in 1987 by the addition of the second tunnel on the northbound lanes. The original tunnel contained a pedestrian walkway, the newer northbound side did not. The construction method of the old tunnel included a multiple structural support arches while the newer less obstructive open span style was utilized on the northbound tunnel. The walls have always been covered in graffiti as far back as I can remember (the 1960s) so the city finally got tired of cleaning it off and decided to block off the street for several days and allow legitimate artists (even some reputed graffiti artists) to paint the entire surface with murals instead. Some of their work was amazing. The increasing homeless population and close proximity to beer and liquor stores made the tunnel a convenient out-of-the weather shelter for vagrants and winos of all descriptions. This made walking through here at night more than most Deep Ellum patrons were prepared to deal with. The walkway itself was literally covered in filth that collected and pooled in the low spots adding a permanent a foul distinctive odor to the cool and dark dampness of the sheltered tunnel. In 2007 DART announced the Good Latimer tunnels would be imploded to make way for a new light rail station. But after several attempts and getting a second look at the overbuilt concrete construction I think they just decided to fill it in and cover it up. The bum tunnel, that graffiti tunnel, by whatever name you knew it, most Dallasites considered the Good Latimer Tunnel an eyesore and a hazardous location but in any case it will all be gone soon so you might try to make it down here before the last remnants of the murals are covered up with dirt. And if you dont make it, next time youre standing at the new DART station at least you'll know whats buried down there beneath your feet.
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Another DART light rail station
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
Category |
Rating |
Photography |
8 / 10 |
Coolness |
7 / 10 |
Content Quality |
10 / 10 |
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
Opheliaism on 9/21/2014 12:53 AM.
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on Sep 21 14 at 0:53, Opheliaism validated this location on Sep 20 14 at 19:36, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Mystery room on Sep 20 14 at 19:35, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Mystery room on Sep 20 14 at 19:35, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Mystery room on Sep 20 14 at 19:34, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Twisted on Sep 20 14 at 19:34, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Built to withstand an A-bomb on Sep 20 14 at 19:32, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture West wall art on Sep 20 14 at 19:31, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture East wall art on Sep 20 14 at 19:31, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Northbound entrance on Sep 20 14 at 19:30, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Northbound ditch
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