There are numerous urban myths about the vast tunnel network that exists under the University, but the truth surrounding the infamous tunnels is much simpler.
At one time, tunnels were a fundamental part of construction design. Now they stand as a piece of history.
The tunnels are as old as the buildings that stand above them. They date back to 1922, the year the University started construction of the current campus.
Beginning underneath the engineering shops, the tunnels run along both sides of the Quad before branching off to the Gym Armory, Foster Hall, the Pentagon and the Music and Dramatic Arts building.
Facility and Utility Operations Director Dave Maharrey said the 1.6-mile network’s primary purpose was to house steam coils, which provide energy for some of the old radiator style heaters on campus and chill water coils for air conditioning units.
Music education graduate student Jay Williams said he’s heard stories of strange Greek life rituals that occur in the University’s underworld from his circle of friends.
“I heard there was little hazing going on. Most times they would make the guys run through [tunnels] and mess with them,” Williams said.
Kinesiology junior Jacob Brown said he heard about the tunnels but doubted their existence.
“I heard there are tunnels underneath LSU used for transport and emergency exits,” Brown said. “I haven’t seen any entrances or anything like that, so I don’t know if I believe that.”
Maharrey said the tunnels are off-limits due to the high-pressure equipment that poses a risk to individuals not properly trained.
After working at the University for 10 years, Director of Utility Services Jim Mayne has also heard his share of stories, including one of former governor Huey Long using the tunnels to get to football games in Tiger Stadium.
“There is a tunnel running from here to the [downtown] capital,” Mayne said jokingly. “Somebody said they were sure of it.”
Mayne said he has never encountered students or other individuals loitering underground, although graffiti and empty cans are sometimes found by maintenance workers.
There are around 40 entrances to the tunnels that can be found all over campus. Only 25 percent are locked. Some lie in plain sight, such as the grated entrance near the Foster Hall Subway, while others are a little harder to reach.
“If you’re willing to crawl on your stomach, there are a lot of [accessible] entrances,” Mayne said.
Nowadays maintenance workers enter the tunnels multiple times a week to perform asbestos removal to facilitate repairs and reduce the risk of harm to maintenance, Maharrey said.
“All the pipes were originally insulated with asbestos. As it deteriorated we started to replace it. Now we’re taking it,” he said.
Maharrey said the newest tunnel was built in the late ’30s, and there are no plans for additions to the existing network.