[ The Daily Collegian
November 7, 1962

Heat from Tunnels Melts Sidewalk Snow
By TONY FOGLIO

Have you ever wondered why certain paved sidewalks on campus are always free from snow in winter, while other pavements are covered with snow or ice?

The warm air which comes up through the grates and which melts snow and ice on these pavements comes from steam lines contained in a network of tunnels which almost "loop" the entire campus.

THE OLDEST tunnel segment probably predates the turn of the century, Thomas B. Kneen, maintenance and utilities department head, said recently.

Kneen’s department is responsible for maintaining the 2.03 miles of tunnels which begin at the University’s power plant at Burrows Road and College Avenue.

The tunnel runs along College Avenue to Sackett, where it branches in two directions. One runs up the Mall to Pattee Library, where it turns onto Curtin Road and then to Shortlidge Road. The Mall branch in turn has a sub-branch which travels under Pollock Road to the health center.

The second branch continues east from Sackett past the Home Economics Building and Atherton to South Halls, where it ends.

Kneen said the present tunnel segments are "part of an ultimate plan to tie the campus together in a loop network piping."

THE PLAN will be realized with the addition of a tunnel segment on Shortlidge Road which will link the lines at Curtin and Pollock Roads. Walter R. Wiegand, director of physical plant, said he hopes the addition will be built "in the near future."

The tunnels, which are "man-high," Kneen said, carry steam lines and also condensate returns (water produced by cooled steam), compressed air, gas lines and telephone and television cables. The only electric lines in the tunnels are those used for lighting, he said.

There are two types of steam lines in the tunnels, Kneen continued. The first type is low-pressure steam which is a by-product of the steam used to generate electricity, The second is high-pressure steam which is generated specifically for the buildings at the furthest extremities of the campus.

Kneen said that if the campus tunnels, including steam lines, were to be built at today’s prices of $100 per foot, the entire system would be worth about $1 million.