Tunneling for the truth – Footle and Grok

It started with a simple question that I pondered after looking at a postcard with a tunnel on it. What is the oldest man-made road tunnel?

This is not easy to answer.

It turns out that there are many types of tunnels; walking tunnels, road tunnels, and train tunnels are just a few. Each has its own winners for the oldest award.

I was interested in tunnels that people, chariots, and other vehicles would have used, but even that can be confusing.

The oldest man-made tunnel is probably the Tunnel of Eupalinos. It was a Greek aqueduct from the 6th century BC. It was 3,399 feet long and ran through Mount Kastro in Greece. Considering that it had to be dug by hand (I’m assuming by slaves,) that is a remarkably long tunnel. Even more amazing, it was dug from opposite ends, and it almost perfectly met in the middle. Those Greeks must have had some accurate measuring equipment.

If we move on to tunnels to aid in traveling, there are many choices. But the one most websites agree on (since it was used for both foot traffic and wheeled conveyances) is at the Apennines’ Furlo Pass.

Oldest Tunnel Facts

The tunnel was built in 76-77 AD, replacing an earlier, smaller tunnel.
Emperor Vespasian built the tunnel alongside a narrow part of a gorge on the Candigliano river, known as the “Grand Canyon of Italy.”
The tunnel on the ancient Roman road Via Flaminia is 125 feet long, 19 feet tall, and one lane.
The road along the gorge and the tunnel was very dangerous and was often closed.
It was used during World War II, but few skirmishes were fought due to the gorge’s narrowness.
The road deteriorated in the 1970s due to mining in the area.
In the 1980s, the ancient tunnel was bypassed by the construction of two modern highway tunnels.
The old tunnel still exists, which means it is possibly the oldest.