When the Holland Tunnel opened to a chorus of honking, celebratory cars on the evening of November 13, 1927, people loved it and were full of excitement. It was a miracle in and of itself: A road that actually ran underneath the Hudson River, allowing people to drive beneath water – the first tube of it, at least.
The famous travel-way had taken a full 7 years to build, from 1920 to 1927.
It was the first tunnel made for cars and other vehicles besides trains that traversed the space between New Jersey on the north side – which is Jersey City at Interstate 78 – and Manhattan, located in New York City.
More specifically, the originally termed ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel’ and ‘Canal Street Tunnel’ connects the Jersey City streets of 12th and 14th with the Manhattan-located Canal Street.
How Did People Get Around Before the Holland Tunnel was built?
Before its construction, travelers were forced to cross the Hudson River by ferry, or by using the first tunnel constructed in 1908 – for passenger trains, not cars. That posed a problem when motor vehicles began teeming on roads across the USA, New Jersey and New York included.
Although a tunnel would be estimated to be a lot cheaper to construct than a bridge — $11 million versus $42 million – the Holland Tunnel was viewed as a solution that would consume less land, but become more complex to engineer than a bridge, a seemingly logical first-thought answer.
How Many People Travel the Holland Tunnel?
Many drivers who traverse the tunnel these days hardly know the full name of the road, called the Clifford Milburn Holland Tunnel, named after its chief engineer.
And perhaps fewer of the drivers of the estimated 33 million vehicles that pass through the tunnel every year know much about its history.
More History of The Tunnel
For instance, while driving through the tunnel, travelers may not realize that at least 13 people died while creating the dangerous Holland Tunnel, not including Clifford Holland, a man who literally gave his life blood to the design and construction of the innovation, and ironically died two days prior to the breakthrough “hole through” feat in 1927 when the crew of “sandhogs” burrowing through from the western side met the “sandhogs” burrowing through from the eastern side – a monumental occasion for sure.
The tunnel itself is a sight for even the well weary to behold, with 3.1 million ceiling tiles filling the space, accompanied by 2.9 million tiles on the walls. At 20-feet wide, the complete length of the north tube is 8,500FT long – longer than the south tube, which rings in a 8,300FT in length.
There are currently a total of nine toll lanes that make up the Holland Tunnel, a roadway that was initially only 50 cents to travel. This stands in stark contrast to the initial four lanes originally contained in the tunnel when it was first built.
It’s also a lot less than the Holland Tunnel toll rates of approximately $13 in 2013.
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