Tunnels Take Us Through

Tunnels Take Us Through

1Every day, people travel through tunnels and may not even think about it. A tunnel is a passage dug under the ground or through a hill. Tunnels help people and goods get where they need to go.

2Some tunnels go through mountains. Without a tunnel, a road or railroad would have to wind up one side of a mountain and down the other. That trip can be slow, and snow can block the way in winter. A tunnel lets cars and trains travel straight through instead.

3Other tunnels go under water. Some carry cars beneath wide rivers, where it might be hard to build a bridge. One famous train tunnel runs under the sea between England and France. Riders can cross from one country to the other without getting on a boat.

4Many big cities have tunnels under their streets. Subway trains rush through them, carrying riders to work and school. Because the trains are underground, they do not get stuck in traffic. Other tunnels under cities hold pipes that bring clean water to homes.

5Building a tunnel is hard work. Long ago, workers dug with picks and shovels. Today, many tunnels are dug by giant machines with spinning cutters on the front. From mountains to rivers to busy cities, tunnels help us get from place to place.