Check out the Nov. 2007 edition of Popular Mechanics...they have a story about the proposed Irvine/Corona tunnel.
A majority of both Orange County and Riverside County voter think the tunnel is a good idea. The OCTA and RCTC and perhaps the toll road agencies, should move all full ahead on making it a reality. The two counties are inseparably linked economically. And the 91 reached it's capacity a long time ago. We need another way to get there from here and here from there.
Bill Vardoulis presented his concept for a tunnel from Orange County to Riverside at a meeting of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority in January 2001. See http://www.eltoroairport.org/news/news-0101.html#0123-etrpa
The tunnel, which would facilitate travel from Orange County to the former March Air Force Base in Riverside was regarded positively by anti-El Toro forces as a way to open up air travel options. It was rejected by the pro-El Toro side.
However, after passage of Measure W and the demise of the El Toro project, the tunnel concept began to be reviewed more favorably by previously pro-El Toro groups as a way to avoid expansion at John Wayne airport.
Posted by: Len Kranser | October 17, 2007 at 04:43 PM
Billable time for a client here Adam?
Posted by: Dan Chmielewski | October 17, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Cool. Will there be smoking allowed in the tunnel?
Posted by: Veritas | October 17, 2007 at 05:18 PM
My thoughts exactly Dan.
Posted by: | October 17, 2007 at 05:33 PM
TUNNELS ARE COOL! TUNNELS ARE COOL! TUNNELS ARE..
oh,sorry about that. I get excited every time we talk about building this tunnel.
Posted by: tylerh | October 17, 2007 at 05:48 PM
Adam, who says a "majority of both Orange County and Riverside County voter think a tunnel is a good idea." This would be The Tri-Tunnel Express, right? That's Vardoulis' catastrophe waiting to happen. If I recall, it involves gasoline pipelines in two of the three tunnels, across four active earthquake faults, right? This garbage about the tunnel dropping straight down during a quake is hogwash! Those lines would be sheared like Marie Antoinette's neck on the guillotine, dumping raw gasoline into the tunnels. Oh, yes, did I forget to mention the electrical lines also planned for the tunnels? Nice, handy ignition source for all that fuel. Yes, we need more capacity, but that tunnel scheme isn't the solution. Double-deck the 91 - we already have the right-of-way - and get moving on it now!
Posted by: The Pot Stirrer | October 17, 2007 at 07:30 PM
They have tunnels all over the world and they are envrionemtnall better, safer and less costly than stacking freeways. Oh, and speaking of earthquakes, remember the Nimitz higway after the Loma Prieta quake?
Posted by: Tunnel Promoter | October 17, 2007 at 07:51 PM
TUNNELS ARE COOL! TUNNELS ARE COOL! TUNNELS ARE..
That's not what those truck drivers up on the I-5 said.
Posted by: redperegrine | October 17, 2007 at 08:27 PM
Dan: I have no client that is paying me to support a tunnel. I do however do a significant amount of business in the Inland Empire and specifically in an area called the I-215 South Corridor. Both Orange County and this area specifically in Riverside County would greatly benefit by having another route for commerce.
The Pot Stirrer: By gas I think you mean water. It's water pipes that would carry water stored in reservoirs in Riverside to Orange County and help pay for tunnel's maintenance.
Posted by: Adam D. Probolsky | October 17, 2007 at 09:29 PM
Adam, I knew about the water lines. Do you know about the gas lines? No? Maybe things have changed since the Tri Tunnel Express was first proposed... In the original proposal there were to be two fuel lines, running right there with the 500,000 volt electrical lines, if memory serves. I've tried to access their web site but it's gone - Kaput! Maybe Vardoulis can enlighten us...
Posted by: The Pot Stirrer | October 17, 2007 at 09:35 PM
They were natural gas lines, not gasoline. Of course it wouldn't matter to the enviro fanatics if it were just hot air, they would oppose it. We should be living in caves and walking on four legs as far as they are concerned.
Posted by: Karl Rove | October 18, 2007 at 07:29 AM
Karl - just tilt your head back and push up with your hind legs. It's pretty easy.
Posted by: redperegrine | October 18, 2007 at 08:01 AM
As someone who grew up in Corona and surfed in HB and San Onofre a lot, I can't tell you how bad we need this road.
Folks in Riverside and Orange County are wasting their lives sitting in this traffic and it hurts business and the environment.
Way to go Adam for keeping a watchful eye on a project that could really improve peoples lives.
This tunnel should be named after Vaedoulis if it is ever built.
Posted by: Corona kid | October 19, 2007 at 04:46 PM
As someone who grew up in Corona and surfed in HB and San Onofre a lot, I can't tell you how bad we need this road.
Folks in Riverside and Orange County are wasting their lives sitting in this traffic and it hurts business and the environment.
Way to go Adam for keeping a watchful eye on a project that could really improve peoples lives.
This tunnel should be named after Vaedoulis if it is ever built.
Posted by: Corona kid | October 19, 2007 at 09:52 PM
The Irvine Co. opposes it, so consider it dead in the water. Hardly any politician in OC will dare stand up to TIC. In fact, they want the donations to keep coming their way. So what The Donald wants, The Donald gets!
Posted by: Tunnel Ain't Gonna Happen! | October 20, 2007 at 11:45 PM