Pictured above: January 13, 1973 – Construction work was under way at Memphis International Airport for a rapid transit system. (Richard Gardner, Special Collections/UofM Library)

Did you know that there is a system of abandoned transit tunnels underneath MEM? When Memphis International Airport added Terminals A and C in the early 1970’s, these sub-basement transit tunnels were imagined as the future home of a tram system connecting passengers between future remote terminals, or as a connection to a future subway system. As time went on, expansion plans changed for remote terminals, the subway system connection never materialized, and no alternative uses for the sub-basement transit tunnels could be identified.

Decades have passed and the walls and ceilings of the tunnels have deteriorated significantly. Now that MEM has begun work on the Terminal Modernization and Seismic Program (TMSP), the tunnel system must be addressed due to its lack of ability to withstand seismic activity.

Memphis and the surrounding areas are located within the New Madrid Seismic Zone, making the original 1960’s and ‘70’s structures at MEM vulnerable to potential earthquake damage. The construction of MEM’s terminal, including the tunnel system, predates building code requirements for seismic resiliency.

To ensure that the modernized terminal, surrounding drives, and open parking garages are up to current-day seismic standards, the sub-basement transit tunnels will be filled with a solid material such as concrete – forever sealing off an intriguing part of Memphis International Airport history.

Below is a look at the tunnels as they exist in August 2024. Click to enlarge each image.