Bachman Tunnels open after only two years
(Editor’s note: First of two parts) Happy New Year, 1929! On Jan. 2, 1929, the Chattanooga Daily News reported “Bachman Tunnel to be Opened Soon” and noted “Twin Tubes Under Ridge Virtually Completed.”
Construction of the two tunnels connecting East Ridge with Chattanooga began in February 1927, and by 1929, the costs were approaching $450,000. Plans for an elaborate dedication ceremony were tentatively scheduled for late January in hopes of a large citizen attendance from Chattanooga, “East Ridge, Mission Ridge and adjacent communities.”
Paving in both tunnels and on the approaches was completed, while more than 100 employees of M.P. Smith Construction Company of Knoxville, the contractor for the project, finalized the sidewalks allowing pedestrian access and any other items on the “punch list.” The three-foot wide sidewalks within the tunnels were described as elevated above the road surface and safeguarded by fourfoot high cyclone fences. An electric lighting system was installed and connected, illuminating the tunnels 24 hours a day and allowing “pedestrians and dogs” to use the passage “around the clock.” Local garden clubs designed flower beds that would be planted within concrete curbs in the spring at both entrances. The landscaping plan included a fountain with a 40-foot high waterfall atop the ridge.
The next day, W.O. Watts, superintendent of Hamilton County roads, announced that “charting of the three approaches, one on the east and two on the west side of the Bachman tunnel,” was completed. Compacted pea-gravel was laid on the approaches, and after the “fills” had settled sufficiently, concrete surfaces were to be added. He then awaited an inspection by the Hamilton County Highway Commission to certify the official opening date.
East Ridge officials immediately saw the advantages of easy access to and from Chattanooga via the proposed tunnels. Mayor Fred Frawley issued a statement in March 1929 that “95 percent of the necessary right of ways have been secured for improvements of the Ringgold Road from the eastern entrance of the tunnel to the Georgia state line.” The widened road created a “white way” that would, he predicted, become the major route for travel between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Tentative plans began for a dedication ceremony — now projected for early summer — when a “row” between Hamilton County Highway Commission members and the M.P. Smith Construction Company arose over additional invoices submitted for payment. Mr. Atkins, the general superintendent, addressed the commission: “The … company was awarded the contract for building the tunnels about two years ago, and I told the … highway commissioners that I would do the best job I could. I think it will prove to be a satisfactory job.”
He paused before continuing, “We have had numerous difficulties. One of them was because the tunnel was to be located comparatively high up in the ridge. There we encountered super-saturated [filled with water] clay and limestone boulder formations.” He explained that limestone “gave us considerable trouble” in digging the tunnels, and additional timber supports were necessary. He asked for final payment before the company began work on two additional projects, the Silverdale Road bridge and a bridge over Chickamauga Creek on the Brainerd road.
After several hours of “debate and negotiations,” the county accepted the job cost, and the construction company “shaved demands,” agreeing to only $11,000 for the extra timbers. In return, the county agreed not to sue at $50 per day for additional days worked over the projected completion date. Both sides declared that it was “a very satisfactory settlement,” and Smith Construction was immediately paid. Even with the additional payout, the total cost of construction was $451,141.34, less than $2,000 over the 1927 projected cost approved by the Hamilton County Court and Judge Will Cummings.
Later that week, Hamilton County Engineer E.G. Murrell appeared before the County Court and compared the Bachman tunnel construction with that of the McCallie Avenue tunnel 15 years earlier. He reminded court members that the McCallie Avenue tunnel “was supposed to have been completed within two years” but was not accepted until after six years. Murrell noted that, while the McCallie passage was only 810 feet long, the Bachman project, completed in two years, involved two tubes totaling 1,026 feet. He believed that the Bachman tubes were definitely a “success.”
The Court selected Commissioner E.R. Betterton as chairman of the Dedication Day Committee. With the involvement of the Bachman family, planning for the festivities began.
Linda Moss Mines is the Chattanooga-Hamilton County historian. For more on local history, visit Chattahistoricalassoc.org.