2nd Street Tunnel

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2nd Street Tunnel
Mouth of the 2nd street tunnel.jpg
The west entrance
Overview
Location Downtown Los Angeles
Route 2nd Street
Start Figueroa Street (Northwest end)
End Hill Street (Southeast end)
Operation
Opened 1924
Technical
Length 1,550 feet (470 m)
Tunnel clearance 12.75 feet (3.89 m)

The 2nd Street Tunnel is a widely filmed and photographed tunnel on 2nd Street under Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles, California. It has been described as "the most recognizable city landmark most Americans have never heard of".[1] It is 1,500 feet long, and lined with glossy white-glazed tiles that bathe the tunnel in a unique and desirable light – described as "one big light box" – which creates unusual textures.

File:Second Street tunnel construction site before boring of the tunnel in Los Angeles, Calif., 1921.jpg
Before the boring of the tunnel, from the Figueroa Street end, 1921

The tunnel was built to relieve congestion on the earlier 3rd Street Tunnel.[2] Construction began in 1916, and was completed in 1924, with its formal opening on July 25 of that year. The distinctive white tiles, which give the tunnel its glow, came from Germany, which caused controversy at the time due to Anti-German sentiment at the onset of World War I.[1]

In popular culture

The tunnel is frequently used in movies – notably Blade Runner – and even more frequently in car advertisements, with 73 car ads filmed in the tunnel in 2006–2008, over two per month.[1] It has also been used for fashion shows, including the 2004 LA Fashion Week show by designer Michelle Mason,[3][4][5] and for parties, such as the 2013 Golden Globe Awards the Art of Elysium/Audi party.

The two entrances are very different in character – "the grittier east entrance and the glowing aperture of the west side, with flaring buttresses reminiscent of the shell of the Hollywood Bowl."[1]

Other films in which the tunnel has appeared include: The Driver (1978), Flashdance (1983), The Terminator (1984), Sneakers (1992), Demolition Man (1993), Money Talks (1997), Con Air (1997), Gattaca (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Independence Day (1996), Kill Bill (2003) and Black November (2012). It is also featured in music videos such as "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, "We R Who We R" by Kesha, "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, "Kings and Queens" by Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Grenade" by Bruno Mars, "Sing" by My Chemical Romance,"Protovision" by Kavinsky, and "Bet" by Tinashe.

See also

  • J. Win Austin, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1941–43, condemned auto-horn noise in tunnel
  • Charles E. Downs, City Council member convicted in a bribery scheme involving a "moving sidewalk" in the tunnel

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Neil, Dan. "The automakers' tunnel of love is a cause for reflection" Los Angeles Times (April 21, 2009)
  2. ↑ Richardson, Eric. tunnel-a-primer "Third Street Tunnel: A Primer" (December 5, 2008)
  3. ↑ Seward, N. Jayne. "L.A. Fashion Week Fall '04: Michelle Mason" California Apparel News (April 2, 2004)
  4. ↑ Niedler, Alison A. "Mason Gets Anonymous Spotlight in the L.A. Times" California Apparel News (April 22, 2009)
  5. ↑ Richardson. Eric. "Auto Shoots Nothing New for 2nd Street Tunnel, But Fashion Shows?" (April 21, 2009)

External links


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