Archive:Utility tunnel

A utility tunnel is a subterreanean space for wires, conduits, pipes, and other conveyences used in the delivery of utilities with enough room for a human to enter. Modern pipes and cables need less attention than older varities, so the construction of utility tunnels has declined of late. Modern underground utilities tend to be enclosed in pipe chases, which are (by definition) not large enough for people.

Steam pipes, in particular, tended 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.