the tunnel

 

As part of my job in emergency planning, I visit some hidden parts of the Texas Tech University campus.  Most recent tour was part of the underground tunnel system.  The subterranean maze of almost 10 miles carries most of the campus utilities like fiberoptic cables, steamed and chilled water, and telephone lines.  This tunnel runs from CHACP 2 (Central Heating and Cooling Plant) to the University Medical Center (UMC).  We were looking at tornado safe sheltering areas.  The tunnel is protected -- unless the pipes break or debris blocks egress.  In that case, one would go to the nearest fan room along the tunnel, climb the vertical ladder, use the adjacent bolt cutters on the grate and exit outdoors -- somewhere in the grassy area between CHACP 2 and UMC south of 9th Street.

 

The tunnel system originated in 1929 with the construction of the Administration Building.  As new buildings are built, they are tied to CHACP 1 on Main Street.  Click here for more information on Texas Tech Utilities.  Go here if you're interested in a ghost story related to Tech tunnels.