| Tunnels of Guanajuato |
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 Part of the enchantment of Guanajuato is in the unusual of
its constructions of bright colors placed one on to another with narrow
alleys and imposing colonial architectonic works, and underneath all
this, the magic of the city continues with more than 8 magnificent
kilometers of imposing tunnels that communicate the city. Driving through
Guanajuato the moment arrives when the common streets become in
entrances to the interior of the Earth, as enormous
anthills. These tunnels serve to improve the traffic and connect all the
city, but this was not the main aim why they were constructed.
 The
city of Guanajuato suffered multiple floods and the works to
control them were not sufficient, so the municipal authorities looking
for solutions to finish this problem, projected the first
tunnel in the area of the Cuajín beginning in the Property of San
Agustín, where now is the market of Ambassadors, and finishing behind
the Pozuelos reservoir. The tunnel would serve to turn aside the waters
that come from the Hill of San Nicholas and to send them outside the city, because at
that time there was not canal and the waters passed through the city
causing strong floods. The 10 of January of 1822 the
project was approved but it did not begin to be constructed until the 4 of June
of 1883 and was suspended in 1885 when only 135 m. of length had
been perforated.
In
1905 the city had another great flood and the
authorities decided to continue with the works and to open other
routes of relief like this. The works continued the 25 of June of
1906 and the first tunnel was concluded in 1908. It was inagurated with the presence of the
authorities and great personalities of the policy. A great
celebration was made, the bells of
the temples and the music sounded in all the town. Although the tunnels were not yet really concluded, for more security they applied a coating.
  The first tunnel, “Tunnel of the Cuajín”, has a length of 1.162 meters
and a diameter is of 7 meters. The engineer
Ponciano Aguilar was in charge of the work. Guanajuato is a mining city so they used the mining
techniques in the tunnels, combined to Italian techniques and machinery
of quality.
The city of Guanajuato was growing and their streets apt for horses and
carts were not prepared for modernity. The increasing traffic forced to look for new alternatives that solved this problem,
these had to respect the typical characteristics and the beauty of the
city, so the same system that was used in the tunnels to drain waters
of rains would serve to drain the traffic. The Miner and
the Galereña were the firsts tunnels made with this intention
and from there, several tunnels were constructed
communicating ones with others.
 Although the first tunnels were finished more than 25 years ago, Guanajuato continues using these underground streets to control the
traffic of the city.
In addition to be an excellent alternative for the vehicular chaos, these
underground ways are something unique that prints a matchless seal
to this city and embellish it inviting us to enjoy his magic and
history.
Talk about the tunnels of Guanajuato is not only to know its history
or to see them in a photography is to experience the sensation of a
unique city in the world, to admire its greatness and to live them, all the enchantment, the tradition and the magic that only Guanajuato
invites us to discover.
Experience this wonder of Guanajuato nominated to be one of the 13 wonders
of Mexico, without a doubt after knowing it, it will be of your
favorites to win. Vote here for the tunnels of Guanajuato, an
architectonic scenary that gives life to this city, Patrimony of the
Humanity.
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