Joralemon Street Tunnel, Tunnel under the East River in New York City
The Joralemon Street Tunnel is a subway passage running beneath the East River to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. Constructed in the mid-1800s, this structure carries trains daily and forms a key link in the transit network between the two boroughs.
The tunnel opened in 1908 and represented a major engineering achievement for underwater construction at that time. Its completion reshaped how residents moved between the two boroughs and strengthened economic ties across the East River.
The tunnel is accessible daily to subway passengers through stations at both ends of the line. Keep in mind that only train passengers can experience this tunnel, as it is not open to pedestrians walking through.
When built, this was one of the longest underwater tunnels of its era and required innovative methods to handle the river's depth and currents. Engineers used compressed air techniques to stabilize the riverbed during construction.
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