(File Photo of the PennDOT logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from PennDOT District 11, (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll was joined yesterday by regional and transportation-industry leaders for a dedication ceremony to recognize the Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System as an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (NHCEL) in the City of Pittsburgh. The ceremony was held yesterday because the newly installed plaque at the Liberty Tunnels Fan House dedicating it as an ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark was unveiled. The Liberty Tunnels opened to traffic for automobiles in January of 1924 as the first tunnel in America comprised of two parallel but separate tunnels with four lanes in total and at that time, it was the longest auto tunnel upon opening at over a mile in length. The program of the NHCEL recognizes historically significant national and international projects, structures, and sites for civil engineering. The only other ASCE NHCEL in the City of Pittsburgh and the only other existing NHCEL in Allegheny County is the Smithfield Street Bridge.