Best pedestrian access to Pitkin Street Tunnel in New Haven CT?

Submitted by yanchaboy11 t3_yk7vjl in newhaven

Hello does anyone know if Pitkin Street Tunnel is open for pedestrians to enter and explore on foot?

Is the tunnel open to vehicle access? If so are there hour restrictions?

Who controls Pitkin Street Tunnel? Planning a visit there from NYC (for educational purpose), and may possibly want to contact the agency who controls the tunnel. Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge and insights.

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RonnieJamesDiode t1_iusdwog wrote

>may possibly want to contact the agency who controls the tunnel.

There's no "may possibly" about it. The tunnel runs under City Hall, a federal courthouse, the US Attorney's office, and multiple banks. It received some pretty significant security upgrades after 9/11 because it's a potential terrorism target, and both ends are guarded by the US Marshal Service. The absolute best case scenario for showing up unannounced is getting politely turned away.

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rossiterpj t1_ius89qe wrote

I don't think you'll have much luck seeing more than a bit of either entrance. The middle part of it under the federal courthouse and is closed to the public. I suppose could try and get some federal charges and the Marshall service would give you a guided tour.

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yanchaboy11 OP t1_iuslg7n wrote

Thank you for sharing your insights. Appreciate it!

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dannybaggs t1_iutef8h wrote

You can definitely drive into the beginning of it at least. There is a parking garage at 360 state st and the entrance to it is in the tunnel. http://elmcityparking.com/rates-info/

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yanchaboy11 OP t1_iuuj280 wrote

Thank you for your comments Danny. Do you know if there is more than just parking garage? According to an old reddit thread, sounds like there is more to explore on foot than just the garage.. Any info would be appreciated!
https://www.reddit.com/r/newhaven/comments/6y4e3k/i_dropped_by_the_tunnels_under_downtown_today/

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editorgrrl t1_iuva5rr wrote

From the comments:

>We used to skate down there. You can also get in on Elm st and fuck around, but they close down the gates to keep people out and security has cameras all over the place.

And someone else talks about going there in 2010.

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flytweed t1_iv0cpze wrote

I just want to make sure you realize that from that thread from 5 yr ago that you cite, that before we were were talking about 2 different tunnel structures entirely. Posts about Pitkin Tunnel now in 2022 are entirely accurate. However, the old post you cited, the “Elm St entrance” was referring to Pitkin Tunnel, but they did not realize we were talking about the tunnel loop structure under Chapel Square, entirely separate.

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dannybaggs t1_iv2zv85 wrote

That thread/pic is not pitkin st tunnel. Theres just a few loading docks and two parking garage entrances in pitkin st tunnel. Its used for commercial deliveries mostly.

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awebr t1_iuvv43q wrote

You may be able to walk in the State St entrance as far as the intersection that goes to the 360 Garage, but will probably get lots of funny looks. There's a loading dock there for the apartments, I walked through there to help a moving truck get in so it's physically possible. Past that intersection though is a guarded gate. The Elm St entrance has the guard gate right at the start so you'd only be able to look in from there. The tunnel mostly serves various parking garages / loading docks.

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HartfordResident t1_ius7v4d wrote

Just put on a safety/construction vest and walk around looking like you are on official business. I don't think they'll ask you any questions.

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yanchaboy11 OP t1_iusldjd wrote

Thank you for sharing your insights. Appreciate it.

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