Pittsburgh starting second tunnel beneath river

August 18, 2008 at 9:02a.m.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A boring machine that dug a light-rail tunnel under the Allegheny River to downtown Pittsburgh is set to begin digging a parallel tunnel back to the river’s North Shore.

The 500-ton machine finished the first tunnel last month. Digging for the second tunnel is expected to begin Monday.

The second tunnel will eventually enable commuter trains to travel round-trip from downtown to neighborhood that includes PNC Park and Heinz Field. The city’s first casino is also scheduled to open in the same general area by late next summer.

The light-rail extension is expected to cost Allegheny County’s transit agency at least $435 million. The second tunnel should be finished before year’s end.