Colonial Parkway, Williamsburg Tunnel, .3 mile south of C&O Railroad underpass, Yorktown, York County, Virginia

Significance: Built using the cut-and-cover method, the Williamsburg Tunnel journeyed through the heart of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Although the builder's inexperience caused numerous delays and problems during construction, the contractor did employ steel forms for molding the concrete that could be dismantled and reassembled quickly. The hardened concrete also required little additional smoothing. The tunnel's portals used stylistic elements of colonial architecture such as arches and Flemish bond brickwork while also reflecting the designers' effort to have structures complement the natural environment of the Tidewater area through their subdued exterior decorations and color as well as their relatively short physical dimensions.
Survey number: HAER VA-48-D
Building/structure dates: 1940-1949 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1975 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000839