Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ construction for the Holland Tunnel began over 90 years ago, on March 31, 1922. The tunnel is a marvel of engineering, and was at the time a new design. It took years to complete the tunnel and to make it into the high traffic landmark that it is today. The tunnel itself was almost a bridge, as that would have cost less to build, but with passing ships, the bridge would have needed to rise nearly 200 ft. above the water, which was simply not feasible. Instead, the tunnel was imagined and eventually created. It took years of planning and construction in order to make it what it is today, a National Landmark
Designing the Tunnel
The design of the tunnel was begun by Clifford Milburn Holland, the man who eventually had the tunnel named after him. His vision provided the engineering genius that is the tunnel, a design that was revolutionary for its time. He put years of his life into the tunnel, and into making sure that it was the best of its kind. However, fate was not kind to him, and he died before he could complete his work. After he died, another engineer took on the job, but he too died shortly after. The third and final engineer, Ole Singstad, finished the tunnel and turned it into the National Landmark that it is today.
The Ventilation System
When the tunnel was being constructed, one of the largest obstacles was coming up with an adequate ventilation system. Since the tunnel was being designed to accommodate automobile traffic, the carbon monoxide levels were a concern, since no similar project had ever been constructed. The third engineer for the project, Ole Singstad, was the first to believe that ventilation was even possible, let alone to accomplish the feat. By creating a test tunnel and closely monitoring volunteers within it, he solved the problem along with the help of Yale University. The tunnel is ventilated transversely, an entirely new concept when it was first built. The circular tunnel has an automatic ventilation system with four ventilation buildings, two on each side of the Hudson. 84 fans provide a change of air every 90 seconds, keeping air quality within acceptable limits. Indeed, when it was first constructed many people claimed the air quality was better within the tunnel than it was on many New York streets.
A National Landmark
On its first day of operation 51,694 vehicles passed through the tunnel, and traffic hasn’t stopped since. Though the tunnel has been shut down to accommodate some major storms, it has continued to be used since the day it opened, and has become known as one of the most valuable contributions to tunnel design and construction. Due to this, the Holland Tunnel was designated a National Historic Civil and Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil and Mechanical Engineers as well as being designated a National Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Unlike many public works projects, this bridge isn’t named after a famous or incredibly influential individual. Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ the tunnel eventually became known for the name of its first engineer, a man who died before completing his work. The tunnel itself has become more well-known than the man, as it is an engineering marvel and a National Landmark. Far surpassing the designs of its time, this tunnel has set the bar for many tunnels that have been created since, making it the first of many of its kind.