Archive:Utility tunnel

A picture of an utility tunnel taken by an urban explorer in Toronto Canada. Note the steam and electrical conduit.

Utility tunnel in the center of Zurich, Switzerland

A utility tunnel is a space for wires, conduits, pipes, and other conveyances used in the delivery of utilities with enough room for a human to enter. Modern pipes and cables need less attention and space than older varieties, so the construction of utility tunnels declined in the late 20th century. Modern underground utilities tend to be enclosed in pipe chases, which are not large enough for people.

Steam pipes, in particular, tend to be housed in large tunnels for easy access by workmen. A number of university campuses have a complex network of steam pipes; student exploration thereof is referred to as roof and tunnel hacking.

See also

• Utility vault
• Steam tunnel incident
• Common utility duct