Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel

The Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel is a tolled tunnel in New York City that connects Red Hook in Brooklyn with Battery Park in Manhattan. The tunnel consists of twin tubes that each carry two traffic lanes under the mouth of the East River. Although it passes just offshore of Governors Island, the tunnel does not provide vehicular access to the island. With a length of 9,117 feet , the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel is the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America.

Plans for the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel date to the 1920s. Official plans to build the tunnel were submitted in 1930, but were initially not carried out. The New York City Tunnel Authority, created in 1936, was tasked with constructing the tunnel. After unsuccessful attempts to secure federal funds, New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses proposed a Brooklyn–Battery Bridge. However, the public opposed the bridge plan, and the Army Corps of Engineers rejected the plan several times, concerned that the bridge would impede shipping access to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This prompted city officials to reconsider plans for a tunnel. The Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel started construction on October 28, 1940, but its completion was delayed due to World War II-related material shortages. The tunnel opened on May 25, 1950.

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