Did you know...? The Battery Tunnel — officially the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel — isn’t just any tunnel under the East River. It’s full of quirky history and little-known facts:
It’s the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America — stretching 1.7 miles beneath the East River!
Wartime hold-up? Construction started in 1940 but was delayed by World War II — materials like steel were diverted for the war effort. It was completed and opened to traffic on May 25, 1950 — after a decade-long delay.
Ventilation innovation: The tunnel has four ventilation buildings (two in Manhattan, two in Brooklyn) that completely cycle the air in the tunnel every 90 seconds!
Hollywood cameo: The Battery Tunnel was a dramatic evacuation route in The Day After Tomorrow as floods took over NYC.
Name change drama: Originally the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel, it was renamed in 2012 to honor former Governor Hugh L. Carey — and not everyone was thrilled about it.
A subway that never was: Believe it or not, there was once a proposal to run subway tracks through the tunnel — but cars won that battle.
So next time you drive through it, remember: you're riding beneath history (and a ton of river water).
