Project overview
This project will replace the existing, failing, illumination system inside the Knapps Hill Tunnel. This project is also part of a larger endeavor that fixed and replaced signal cabinets in Leavenworth and parts of Grant County, both of which have already been completed.
In addition to the lights themselves, the project will replace all their conduits and wiring, as well as the structures installed to support them.
The new lighting system will be more modern and will allow for a variety of functions based on ambient light, as well as provide a backup system in case of blackouts.
Not replacing the lights would result in hazardous driving conditions with low visibility for the users of the tunnel.
What to expect
The Knapps Hill Tunnel will be closed for the duration of the project (about three weeks), which will begin after Labor Day on Sept. 8 and last until Sept. 24, to reduce the amount of traffic affected. There will be detours around the tunnel at SR 971 and US 97. Neither detour has a weight restriction.
This project came about as a result of the failure of several lights inside the tunnel. The need to replace them, coupled with the need to update the signal cabinet resulted in the three-week project that lies ahead. There's an extraordinary need to carry this out, given the failing lights and the need to keep the tunnel safe in an area that sees heavy traffic during tourist seasons.