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UER Forum > Archived US: Pacific Northwest > anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels) (Viewed 687 times)
mikenike605 


Location: PDX Camas, WA


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anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
< on 5/13/2010 7:58 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I have seen these tunnel entrances around Portland, OR my whole life but i have always been curious as to what they are for? what there history is? and how can i get in them? when i was little i thought maybe subway tunnels until i found that to be very unfeasible but now im really curious as to what they are. does anyone know what they are?

I dont have pictures and the google maps links dont work but i can give basic street directions as to where they are so you can see on google maps

first entrance is in Pioneer square, it is located on the corner of the courthouse on SW Yamhill St & SW 6th Ave. on street view you might notice two blue boxes with windows on the top facing down Yamhill and 6th ave. on ends of these boxes are locked doors that lead to stairs and go down into something.

another location was on the corner of 9th Ave & SW Morrison street. you will notice a glass enclosure next to a woman on a bicycle. I noticed there are stairs and handrails that disappear into wooden boards and metal grates to prevent people from getting in.

I'm assuming these tunnels are connected but i could be wrong. I have tried to look for info on them on the internet but i have only come across the shanghai tunnels stuff and i know this is quite a bit more recent. so anyone know anything about them?

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junkyard 


Location: LaCrosse, WI
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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 1 on 5/13/2010 8:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I wouldn't know, but might be able to figure it out in a few weeks.

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Noah Vale 


Location: Portland, Or


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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 2 on 5/14/2010 3:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
If we're talking about the same thing, and I'm pretty sure we are, then the one on 9th and Morrison goes down to a parking garage.

"Dallas is a magnificent and wide open city, and I'm deeply envious of any urban explorers who have the good fortune to live there." -Ninj.
Freak 


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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 3 on 5/14/2010 3:54 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Portland has their sewer and utility GIS online for the public (if you're in the city of Portland or on their city wireless), maybe you could start there?

How wide are the entrances? Wide enough for a couple big fat guys to pass eachother, or more like one person going single file? That could tell you if they're intended for public use (like a subway) or if they're some kind of utility access (like an electrical vault or steam tunnel). The look and layout (two entrances) make it look kind of like a subway.

Other options could be an underground parking garage, emergency exits from a basement, etc.

Turn off the internet and go play outside.
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junkyard 


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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 4 on 5/14/2010 4:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
We should uer the parking garage.

I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
Any problem can be licked with a case of beer and a few sticks of dynamite.
Strategic Beer Command ruling the desert since 1995 http://www.strategic-beer-command.com
mikenike605 


Location: PDX Camas, WA


i like to take pictures

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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 5 on 5/15/2010 9:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I could investigate parking garages however they are probably renovated or something if they aren't seeing use. i might also try and see the inside of the courthouse building to see if there is a sub level that might extend out to that.

I know on yamhill and 6th the entrances are only wide enough for a single person to walk down however there are two of them.

i wouldn't think subways because i haven't heard of that in any of Portland history, also the Willamette used to flood alot and probably wouldn't be suitable for a subway at that level.

I had a friend mention it might have been for underground walking routes? but i dont know how reliable that info is.

i thought there used to be more entrances like the one on morrison and 9th but i think they were taken out when they put in the new downtown max line.
[last edit 5/15/2010 9:05 PM by mikenike605 - edited 1 times]

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mikenike605 


Location: PDX Camas, WA


i like to take pictures

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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 6 on 5/15/2010 9:16 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
http://www.co.mult...ges/MC-GIS-FAQ.pdf

GIS maps seem to be a good place to start. thank you Freak

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eidolon 


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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 7 on 5/16/2010 7:29 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by mikenike605
first entrance is in Pioneer square, it is located on the corner of the courthouse on SW Yamhill St & SW 6th Ave. on street view you might notice two blue boxes with windows on the top facing down Yamhill and 6th ave. on ends of these boxes are locked doors that lead to stairs and go down into something.


I've heard that these ones lead to what used to be public restrooms.

fruad 






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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 8 on 6/1/2010 10:37 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The entries you mention are the old public bathrooms. They closed them due to some combination of vagrancy, crime and expense for maintenance. Your asking about shanghai tunnels.
There are tunnels linking businesses like the leather shop in NW Portland to other structures they have been closed at the business side. I did have one building manager tell me that in the lowest level of the basement there was a manhole cover going further down. He mentioned this as he had problems with rats and nutria getting in. He said at one point he found a dead nutria odd in that it was as big as a cat. Odder still in that it had been killed by something larger. He would not allow me to explore it.
Interestingly most of the older buildings downtown actually have the first floor underground. So on what would have been street level is now lower level one. having viewed some of the interiors that have been left in a more timeless state I can tell you that its worth seeing if you dig the old stuff. The timeless old phone on an older still desk. the dust settled on everything. the smell. its just cool. (i suck at posting messages)

mikenike605 


Location: PDX Camas, WA


i like to take pictures

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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 9 on 6/7/2010 1:49 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I was just investigating those particular cases near pioneer square. ive already researched the shanghai tunnels but im not that interested in investigating them.

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Deuterium 


Location: PNW
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Re: anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels)
<Reply # 10 on 6/18/2010 7:56 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I gather that they're no longer connected. Many have been partitioned and appropriated to other uses, such as storage.

There is a "tunnel tour" starting at a restaurant/pub, but the area is actually used as a storage by the restaurant. There are things like kegs, water heater and such.

Not much information on "shanghai tunnels" is out there and I doubt we actually have serious tunnels remaining to this date.

In the last ten year a LOT of digging took place in Portland to expand on-road rail-cars and places to embed electrical equipment for them.

UER Forum > Archived US: Pacific Northwest > anyone know the nature of portland tunnels? (not shanghai tunnels) (Viewed 687 times)



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