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Abandoned Subway Tunnel

Hamilton St.& West St., Odell, IL
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East < GO > West

Across from St. Paul's Church is an entrance to a 1934 pedestrian tunnel under Route 66. From 1926 to 1946 West Street was part of the original alignment Route 66 in Odell. By 1934 traffic on 66 had increased to the point that a tunnel was built so children could safely cross the street to get to the parochial school located at the church.

GPS: 41.003437, -88.527431

The entrance was filled in but the first three steps and the railing were replaced in 2006 by the Illinois Route 66 Association. A new 4 lane Route 66 was built a couple of blocks farther west in the mid-1940's bypassing this part of town. After the bypass opened West Street became Business 66, but once again carried much less traffic. That led to the closing of the subway tunnel in 1947.

There are a couple of signs at the filled in entrance entrance that tell the story of the tunnel. The bottom sign appears to be a copy of a newspaper story about the tunnel that says it was built in 1934. Other sources say the tunnel was built in 1937.

Photo(s): 2016