Farewell tribute to historic 90-year-old Pasco underpass before it’s demolished

Bob Brawdy

A small contingent of police and fire vehicles ceremoniously parade early Monday through the Lewis Street underpass, becoming the last vehicles to use the historic structure before its torn down.

The nearly 90-year old structure runs parallel to the new $36 million Lewis Street overpass that is replacing the deteriorating underpass.

Construction workers block off the west end roadway of the Lewis Street underpass early Monday as the first step in preparing to demolish the historic underground structure.
Construction workers block off the west end roadway of the Lewis Street underpass early Monday as the first step in preparing to demolish the historic underground structure.

Traffic is being rerouted onto East A Street until the new overpass over the BNSF tracks opens in April.

The underpass was designed by Northern Pacific Railway and built in 1937, according to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.