HAVE you ever been stuck in gridlock traffic or pounding a packed pavement and dreamt of a less congested route to travel?
Commuters wanting to escape the hustle and bustle in Chicago can opt for an unorthodox route buried underneath the metropolis.
A five-mile network of complex tunnels sprawls beneath the major city, brimming with shops, bars, cafes and even a gym.
The subterranean system provides a weatherproof passage for pedestrians travelling around the central business district.
But don't be alarmed if you haven't heard of The Chicago Pedway - as even natives struggle to understand the extraordinary underpass.
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It links more than 40 blocks in the Loop and connects various skyscrapers, retail stores, and train stations dotted in the area.
Those who brave the underground maze can enter via a number of hotels, government buildings and residential structures.
Although you are wandering hundreds of feet below the Windy City's streets, the Pedway is a mysterious metropolis in its own right.
The twisting tunnels are laden with watering holes, shops and coffee spots for commuters to refuel at - and there was even a museum.
Dimly lit nightclubs with impressive DJ lineups, that aren't brimming with tourists, have become a favoured haunt of locals.
Some lie behind unmarked doors, adding even more confusion to the stumble home after a few too many.
Quirky restaurants are eerily illuminated by fluorescent lighting, as the sun's rays can't shine on this below-ground district.
Those looking worse for wear can spruce themselves up at the below-ground barber shop, or revitalise at one of the gym facilities.
Stained glass windows from the 1900s line the walls en route to an array of dry cleaners, salons and shoe repair businesses.
Commuters are greeted by ever-changing art exhibits on their travels, injecting a dose of colour into the concrete thoroughfare.
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But the gloominess of the subterranean streets provided the perfect filming location for 2008's Batman: The Dark Knight.
A number of heart-stopping scenes for the second instalment of the superhero trilogy were shot in the Pedway's Millennium Station.
But Batman's race through the underground network on his Batpod would barely rival the speed of some of the fiercest Chicagoans rushing to a meeting.
Although it's touted as a "desirable way to move around downtown", the Pedway has continued to thrive way beyond its original purpose.
The underground network was first opened in the hopes of relieving the pressure on Chicago's struggling sewer system.
Tunnels would transport the water supply from Lake Michigan into the city, but the potential for the labyrinth was soon realised.
The city built on the sewage system's foundations to provide a safe haven from the freezing weather for its residents in 1951.
It provides walking links between the Loop's most frequented hotspots as well as less busy routes to popular train platforms.
Each section is independently owned and maintained by the corresponding building above, meaning they each have different lights and even air temperatures.
Tour operators can take you down to explore the maze without the fear of getting lost in the underground colony.
Locals complain of inconsistent signage and an official map that doesn't include dozens of informal pathways.
One wrong turn can leave people aimlessly wandering the underground network that sprawls across five miles.
You could find yourself in one of the abandoned freight tunnels that crisscross beneath the city, built by the Chicago Tunnel Company.
But don't fear, as the lines, which ceased operation in 1959, are now sealed off and near enough impossible to gain access to.
It's still key to confirm your exit route - as most sections of the Pedway are independently owned and operated, meaning some of the doors can be unexpectedly closed at sporadic times.
Concierge Gail Walker told the Chicago Tribune she often encourages adventurous guests to explore the city from the inside out.
She explained: "I get all kinds of tourists — the business travellers as well as the leisure travellers, because they think it’s fascinating to be able to get to different locations underground.
"The Pedway is just a wonderful added surprise for our hotel guests."
Another hotel worker joked that he warns holidaymakers they "may need a PhD to understand" the complex subterranean streets.
Bernard Bilal added: "You can get lost, but it’s a nice lost. … I can’t recall anybody coming back and saying 'Wow, I really got messed up down there'."
The Pedway still shows no sign of slowing down, with many investors looking to capitalise on the lure of the labyrinth.
Local nonprofit Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) raised £100,000 in 2017 to spruce up the tunnels and turn them into a tourist attraction.
It planned to add an underground library, farmers market and art galleries to bolster the allure of the below-ground network.
And a glass cube in Millenium Park would provide another route for public access, adding some glitz to the puzzling Pedway.
The "hidden gem" continues to relieve foot traffic on Chicago's busy streets, as well as offering an escape from the chaos on the city's surface.
