A look back: March 13, 1957

Another milestone in the construction of the $18 million Bear Creek Reservoir project was reached yesterday when the final blast of dynamite was set off for the 1,145-foot tunnel, which ultimately will become the outlet channel for the reservoir while the 234-foot-high earthen dam is being constructed and also for reservoir operations after the dam is completed.

The tunnel, blasted through solid rock 50 to 60 feet below the mountainside for a distance of 1,028 feet, took 75 working days to complete.

Each blast provided about 100 cubic yards of materials, which had to be loaded and carted in dump wagons before the next blast could be fired. From 200-400 pounds of dynamite were used in each blast.