LaSalle was one of three streets in Chicago to have a tunnel under the Chicago River , the other two being W. Washington St. and W. Van Buren St. Constructed in 1869-71 , the 2000 foot long tunnel alleviated interruptions from bridge openings due to heavy river traffic and served as an escape route during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 . Originally open to only pedestrians and private vehicles , the LaSalle tunnel was turned over to cable car companies in the 1880s , since it was impossible for cable car systems to span the movable bridges . Closed in 1906 , the tunnel was deepened and reopened to electric street car traffic in 1911-12 . The tunnel was closed permanently in 1939 to make way for subway construction
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
LaSalle Street