If you have ever driven through the mountains of Colorado, you are almost guaranteed to have driven through the world’s highest tunnel, maybe without even realizing the significance of it. The tunnel that I am referring to is, of course, the iconic Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel, and the history behind it is just as impressive as the passage itself:

Officially named the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel, the iconic tunnel is located just 60 miles west of Denver and was built as a way to carry I-70 under the Continental Divide.
Wikimedia Commons
Opened in 1973, the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel took a whopping 5 years to complete thanks to both numerous construction setbacks and issues with the budget.
Wikimedia Commons
(The original estimate for the Eisenhower Tunnel was $42M, but ended up setting the state back a cool $108M.)
Today, the tunnel ushers an estimated 28,000 cars each day and saves travelers an upwards of 9.1 miles by not having to drive over Loveland Pass.
Flickr/S Milford

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In terms of stats and size, the Eisenhower side of the tunnel is 1.693 miles long...
Flickr/Mr. Nixter
(The eastbound Johnson Tunnel — which was named for former Colorado Senator Edwin C. Johnson — is just a hair longer at 1.697 miles.)
...40 feet wide...
Flickr/erikkellison
...and 48 feet tall.
Flickr/Kari
As stated in the intro, the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel is also the highest vehicular tunnel in the world, sitting pretty between 11,013 and 11,158 feet above sea level.
Flickr/daBinsi

To learn more about historic Colorado tunnels, click on Most People Have No Idea This Unique Tunnel In Colorado Exists.

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