Holland Tunnel

'Highway Under the Hudson'

Description

The Holland tunnel was the first automotive tunnel crossing of the Hudson River. There was a precedent in that a railroad tunnel was built across the Hudson. The Tunnel Commission initially planned to build a bridge but decided that the cost of acquiring the land was prohibitive. The tunnel was named for its designer, Clifford Milburn Holland who came up with the design which features two separate 2-lane tubes each going in a different direction. He had the misfortune to die of a heart attack on the day before the two halves of the tunnel were to be joined at the age of 41. Work was completed by Ole Singstad who devised the revolutionary ventilation system.

Constructed, 1927

At the time no one thought it would be possible to exhaust that much carbon monoxide for the amount of traffic envisioned. The solution was a tri-level tunnel where the cars are on the mid-level and fresh air and exhaust plenums above and below with two ventilation shafts that 'frame' the Hudson River, one on the West Side & its mate in New Jersey.

Opened, Nov 13, 1927

President Calvin Coolidge, aboard his yacht, the Mayflower, at anchor in the Potomac River, pressed a button that rang a large brass bell at the entrance.

Designations

National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

National Historic Landmark

Factoids

Holland Tunnel was the 1st use of mechanical ventilation in a vehicular tunnel.

Related People & Organizations

Stephen Grover Cleveland,Unfortunately, Clifford Holland died of a heart attack at a Battle Creek sanatorium the day before President Grover Cleveland was to preside over the 'Holing Through' ceremony to join the halves which was canceled.

Calvin Coolidge,Presided over the inauguration of the opening of the Holland Tunnel

Related Sites

St. John's Park-The exits from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Holland Tunnel are at the park location now.

St. John's Chapel-The exits from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Holland Tunnel are at the park location now.

#AmericanPresidentsInNYC