Traversing a tunnel

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Members of CAP’s Management Council standing in the Buckskin Mountain Outlet

This winter, CAP dewatered and inspected two tunnels and one siphon, an occurrence that is infrequent, thanks to the design and engineering of the CAP system. Members of CAP’s Management Council completed safety training for confined spaces, lockout/tagout and fall protection and then entered the seven-mile Buckskin Mountain Tunnel by descending a “chicken ladder.” This tunnel is a rarely seen piece of CAP infrastructure. It was bored by a 23.5-foot diameter “mole” and fully lined with precast segments that together make the 22-foot diameter tunnel. It was under construction from 1975 to 1980 and cost $65.8 million to construct. Standing in the Buckskin Mountain Outlet gives perspective as to the size of the infrastructure.