It was designed by William Bryson who was the resident engineer for the Washington Street Tunnel.

If they repaired it and made other local improvements they could use the tunnel exclusively for cable car service.

[1][2][3] The reversing of the Chicago River in 1900 exposed the roof of the tunnel in the new riverbed and in 1904 the Federal government declared it a hazard to navigation.

The subway was not built, concrete ramps raised the tracks up to street grade.

[3] The tunnel section under the river was removed and a two tube steel plate replacement built in a drydock on Goose Island was lowered into a trench in the riverbed.