Pacheco Pass Tunnels

Pacheco Pass Tunnels
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
13 mi (21 km)

The Pacheco Pass Tunnels are a planned set of tunnels to carry California High-Speed Rail across the Diablo Range in the vicinity of Pacheco Pass east of Gilroy, California. The tunnels will constitute the first mountain crossing constructed as part of California High-Speed Rail, connecting the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley portions of the system.[1]

The tunnels are planned to consist of two 28-foot (8.5 m) diameter tunnels.[2] At 13 miles (21 km) long the main tunnel is expected to become North America’s longest rail tunnel, surpassing the Mount Macdonald Tunnel in British Columbia.[1][2] An additional 1.5-mile (2.4 km) rail tunnel is planned to be constructed to the west. The tunnels are expected to cost around $5 billion.[2]

The right-of-way runs parallel to the existing Pacheco Tunnel and Santa Clara Tunnel, two contiguous water tunnels connecting the San Luis Reservoir into Santa Clara County.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b Meachan, Jody (January 30, 2017). "High-speed rail considers 2 record-setting options for Pacheco Pass tunnel". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Meacham, Jody (June 14, 2017). "What's under Pacheco Pass and what's it mean for California high-speed rail?". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Tunneling Issues Report" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. January 2004. pp. 16, 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 27, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.