Lytle Tunnel

{{Short description|Vehicular tunnel in Cincinnati, Ohio, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox tunnel

| name = Lytle Tunnel

| image = Lytle Tunnel Inside.JPG

| image_size =

| alt = Inside Lytle Tunnel

| caption = Inside Lytle Tunnel

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| location = Cincinnati, Ohio

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| status =

| route = {{jct|state=OH|I|71}}

| start = Fort Washington Way

| end = Northeast Expressway

| startwork =

| opened = 1970

| close =

| rebuilt =

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| owner =

| operator = Ohio Department of Transportation

| traffic = Automotive

| character = Passenger

| toll =

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| construction =

| length = {{convert|335|m|ft}}

| lanes = 6

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The Lytle Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel that carries Interstate 71 (I-71) under the historic Lytle Park in Cincinnati, in the U.S. state of Ohio, connecting Fort Washington Way to the Northeast Expressway. It is a six-lane tunnel with three tubes. There is a two-lane southbound tube, a three lane-northbound tube, and a one-lane southbound tube that separates from the highway and serves as an exit ramp to the downtown area. The tunnel is ventilated by two grates in the northbound tube and the southbound exiting tube. It was completed in 1970.{{cite web|url=http://home.no.net/lotsberg/data/USA/li000.html|title=Road Tunnels in United States < 1000 m, 9th revision|first=Eugenio A|last=Merzagora|work=The World's longest tunnel page|date=July 18, 2005}} At {{convert|335|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, it is the longest vehicular tunnel in Ohio. It is also the only tunnel on I-71.

During the construction of the Lytle Tunnel, many historic buildings were razed for the project. The old Lytle Park was similar to a town square, with many Greek Revival buildings surrounding the park. On the park's east side is the Taft Museum of Art. A few of the original buildings remain, including the Literary Club of Cincinnati, the Anna Louise Inn, Guilford School building, and the Phelps Apartments.

A CB radio broadcast on channel 19, the most commonly used commercial trucking frequency, loops a warning about this turn and its hazards 24 hours a day, seven days a week.{{cite news | url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/pdf/KY_CE_170805.pdf | title=Lytle Tunnel down to 1 lane for 10 days | work=The Kentucky Enquirer | date=August 17, 2005 | access-date=August 12, 2014 | last=Weathers | first=William A. | page=A1}}