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districts which are the ultimate objective of the proposed route.

But even without precise data, it is clear that the best permanent means of reaching those upland districts, whether on one side of Sawmill Run or on the other, is not by a tunnel debouching in the bottom of the valley -- say at the Bell Tavern. This follows from the fact that the tunnel can reach a much higher level at a good gradient and with a shorter distance. And from this higher outlet point a viaduct high in the air above the Bell Tavern would give direct access to the uplands of Beechview and Mt. Lebanon and southward, while streets of easy gradient would reach the uplands east of Sawmill Run. The high level tunnel, furthermore, will reach all the areas served by the low level, or Bell Tavern, route, and in addition can reach the other and more important lands on the hills which cannot be reached via the Bell Tavern route within a reasonable distance.

The thoroughfare extensions from the southern end of the tunnel are briefly discussed under "Outlying Thoroughfare Improvements" below. At its northern end the new bridge would fit admirably into the proposed thoroughfare system of the Down Town District, main wide streets extending directly from the end of the bridge approach to the north, south, east, and west.

Owing to the importance of the South Side as a point for the delivery of freight, a reasonably direct and easy approach from there to the new tunnel seems desirable. Freight to be teamed to the South Hills District seems likely to originate either near the Smithfield Street bridge, or east of South Seventeenth Street. From the former point, it is almost out of the question to get an approach of easy gradient to the mouth of the tunnel, on account of the lack of distance; but it must be remembered that the inclines will still be available, greatly relieved by the new tunnel from their present congestion, and further that freight for the South Hills could easily be shipped to points from which access to the new tunnel would be easy and direct. From the latter point, the connection can be secured by climbing over the railroad on a viaduct, probably along South Twelfth Street, and thence following the hillside westward on a more or less uniform gradient to the mouth of the tunnel. An examination of the hillside below the Brownsville Road indicates that such a

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Last modified on 22-Dec 1999
Design format: copyright 1997-1999 Bruce S. Cridlebaugh
Original document: Frederick Law Olmsted, 1910