Pedestrian tunnel to go under Snake River

Posted by Joe Vandal
May 28, 2006

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I propose a new pedestrian pathway to cross from the east to west sides of the Snake River in Idaho Falls. Instead of a bridge, however, I propose a tunnel that has entrances on the greenbelt and dips down to the river bottom for the journey across.

I could not quickly find an overhead photograph of the area between Keefer Island and the north end of our hydro-dam (the falls), so I’ll just have to describe that this is the location whereabout the tunnel should be located. The tunnel would have to be close enough to the north edge of our dam that overhead boaters would not affect it and vice versa. This is also a location about in the middle between Broadway and John’s Hole Bridges, so a pedestrian crossing would me most convenient here.

A concrete entrance could be constructed on each side, which could also be locked at night (wouldn’t want to find a murder in the morning). The tunnel would then descend down to the river bottom, go across the river along the bottom, then ascend back up on the other side to the same type of concrete entrance.


The tunnel should be made of plexiglass or some manner so pedestrians can see the river around the tunnel. Doesn’t Sea World have a tunnel going along the bottom of an aquarium? This idea is like that. People would be able to see the river bottom natural features, and swimming fish. If the tunnel is close enough the dam, that could be seen also. I’ve heard our river water is murky, so some lighting may need to be installed to highlight neat features.

I don’t know how deep the Snake River is in this location, but I guesstimate it’s only 15-25 feet deep at the lowest point. A transparent-roofed tunnel that is ten foot circumference would probably enjoy natural light from the surface above, but emergency or storm lighting could be strung inside. I’ve seen those solar light chutes sold at Home Depot that bring light from your roof to inside your home; perhaps ‘light sinks’ could be installed in the tunnel that float up to the river surface.

I’ve suggested some crazy things here, and this will certainly rank high up there. But this tunnel is not something you see everyday, and I think it would make Idaho Falls more unique and more attractive.

City Improvement Ideas

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