# What is this large mechanical thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104 "2021-06-27T02:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/1 "2021-06-27T02:48:47Z")
This is in the background photo of a semi truck. I have no idea what it is, never seen anything like it. It looks like a giant heat sink. This is in Canada, if it makes a difference. Anybody know? > **[Google Photos](https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?dsh=S587504991%3A1675197711801529&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.google.com%2Fphoto%2FAF1QipNYx52l8PkUiZVijJrhTSjlmSB_Vd9oP-hb-Vpb&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.google.com%2Fphoto%2FAF1QipNYx52l8PkUiZVijJrhTSjlmSB_Vd9oP-hb-Vpb&osid=1&passive=1209600&service=lh2&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&ifkv=AWnogHewEaZzRUZJXfB6RTC3bLUaT0Haw5n4eBl--ii57Pn0_YeTFKfoebHID8FeOIKWw7wZryx9Lw)** > > Home for all your photos and videos, automatically organized and easy to share. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/2 "2021-06-27T02:51:17Z")
Your link appears to be busted. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/3 "2021-06-27T04:04:03Z")
Well, no wonder I got no responses. Let’s try that again! I think if you click on it you get the full image. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pdLQptsDvaWKjeilKxMFGPrB_u2PrFSR_1wcG8HCdMHh29WhCyE91L95pqDC5AnBuWM2sIGP8V6CxTpl5e6danX8MinXQeBfV82-gO8lJxc81BWW4J8P1glKjc-ShCzTcI7ZN7j3pw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Joe Wentworth") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/HCwfV9fM58WzYf5r8) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/4 "2021-06-27T04:20:31Z")
That’s really strange. It reminds me of air vents for some type of underground structure. Maybe the _[Wildfire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain)_ lab? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/5 "2021-06-27T04:52:49Z")
They appear to be fresh air intakes for underground traffic tunnels. Possibly this one Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel > **[Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Hippolyte_Lafontaine_Bridge%E2%80%93Tunnel)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel (French: Pont-Tunnel Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine) is a highway bridge–tunnel running over and beneath the Saint Lawrence River. It connects the Montreal borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve with the south shore of the river at Longueuil, Quebec. > Named after Lower Canada political reformer Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, the Lafontaine Tunnel is an immersed tube structure, measuring 1,391 m (4,563.6 f... ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-large-mechanical-thing/945104/6 "2021-06-27T05:33:31Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > Possibly this one > Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel Cool! That sure looks like it! They’ve built it up a little since then: The dope continues to be the greatest thing for obscure questions. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s1eSDLthTBe2Gnk5n6xF5xw%212m2%211d45.5856337%212d-73.5069298%213f112.85%214f8.655%215f0.75