Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the USA: The United States has some of the longest tunnels in the world. The tunnels are used for different purposes in the states based on where they are located. The longest tunnels in the USA are the Delaware Aqueduct, Cascade Tunnel, Anton Anderson Tunnel, Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Eisenhower Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Ted Williams Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, and Hamptons Road Bridge Tunnel.
The top 10 longest tunnels in the USA include different types of tunnels, including foot, vehicle road traffic, rail, and canal tunnels. The United States is home to almost every kind of tunnel. Tunnels serve several purposes. Some tunnels supply water for human consumption or hydroelectric power generation.
In this article, we have provided the list of the top 10 longest tunnels in the USA, with the name of the tunnel, and its length.
Table of Content
- About Longest Tunnels in the USA
- List of Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the USA
- Longest Tunnel in the USA – Delaware Aqueduct
- Second Longest Tunnel in the USA – Cascade Tunnel
- Third Longest Tunnel in the USA – Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
- Fourth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Anton Anderson Tunnel
- Fifth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Battery Tunnel
- Sixth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Eisenhower Tunnel
- Seventh Longest Tunnel in the USA – Holland Tunnel
- Eighth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Ted Williams Tunnel
- Ninth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Lincoln Tunnel
- Tenth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Fort McHenry Tunnel
About Longest Tunnels in the USA
The Delaware Aqueduct, the longest tunnel in the United States, was built to carry water to the city of New York, not automobiles. The 85-mile tunnel has sections that are 2,500 feet below the surface and have a maximum diameter of 19.5 feet. The Delaware Aqueduct begins immediately around the Delaware River and draws water from other streams in the Catskill Mountains in addition to its adjacent source. In addition to being used for automobile and train transit, tunnels are occasionally constructed to guarantee that major cities have a sufficient supply of water. The largest city in the country, New York City, requires a consistent supply of water due to its high population density.
List of Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the USA
The list of the top 10 longest tunnels in the USA is as follows:
|
Name of Tunnel |
Length(in km) |
|---|---|
|
Delaware Aqueduct |
137 |
|
Cascade Tunnel |
12.6 |
|
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel |
5.6 |
|
Anton Anderson Tunnel |
4.18 |
|
Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel |
2.78 |
|
Eisenhower Tunnel |
2.7 |
|
Holland Tunnel |
2.6 |
|
Ted Williams Tunnel |
2.57 |
|
Lincoln Tunnel |
2.4 |
|
Fort McHenry Tunnel |
2.4 |
Longest Tunnel in the USA – Delaware Aqueduct
The Delaware Aqueduct is a part of the New York City water supply system. It was constructed between 1939 and 1945 and carries about half of New York City’s water supply.
- The Delaware Aqueduct is the world’s longest tunnel, with a width of 4.1 m and a length of 137 km.
- It is located in the northeastern part of the United States, and it runs through the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
- The tunnel delivers drinking water from the Rondout, Cannonsville, Neversink, and Pepacton reservoirs on the west bank of the Hudson River.
Second Longest Tunnel in the USA – Cascade Tunnel
The Cascade Tunnel refers to two railroad tunnels, both constructed by the Great Northern Railway. The original tunnel and its replacement are located in the northwest United States in the Cascade Range of Washington.
- It was the longest railroad tunnel in the Americas until 1989, connecting Berne in Chelan County on its east with Scenic Hot Springs in King County on its west.
- The first tunnel, 2.63 miles (4.23 km) in length, was opened in 1900. It was abandoned in 1929 after the new longer and lower tunnel was opened.
- The current tunnel, 7.8 miles (12.6 km) in length, started in early 1929. The new line had 72.9 route miles (117.3 km) or 93.2 route miles (150.0 km) electrified, between Skykomish and Wenatchee.
- It is a part of the BNSF Scenic Subdivision between Seattle and Wenatchee, with Amtrak’s Empire Builder running through it.
Third Longest Tunnel in the USA – Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, a 3.5-mile-long (5.6 km) tunnel, is one of the longest tunnels in the USA. It was started in 1957 and is part of the 3.5-mile Hampton Roads crossing.
- This tunnel comprises four lanes, 2 eastbound and 2 westbound, under the main shipping channels for Hampton Roads Harbor in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States.
- This tunnel connects the historic Phoebus area of Hampton near Fort Monroe on the Virginia Peninsula with Willoughby Spit in the city of Norfolk in South Hampton Roads.
- The bridge–tunnel was originally signed as State Route 168 (SR 168) and US 60. It later received the I-64 designation when the second part opened in 1976.
Fourth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Anton Anderson Tunnel
The Anton Anderson Tunnel was built in 1943. It is a railroad tunnel built beneath Maynard Mountain that connects inland Bear Valley with the small port city of Whittier.
- It is not only the longest highway tunnel in North America, but also the longest dual-use tunnel in the world, serving both rail cars and automobiles.
- With a length of 2.6 miles, this tunnel originally only served rail traffic throughout its length.
- During World War II, it was constructed by the military as Alaska’s main supply route for goods arriving in Whittier. The tunnel was made a part of the Alaskan highway system when the military abandoned Whittier in the 1960s.
Fifth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Battery Tunnel
The Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel, officially the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, is also commonly known as the Battery Tunnel or Battery Park Tunnel. It is a tolled tunnel in New York City that connects Red Hook in Brooklyn with the Battery in Manhattan.
- With a length of 9,117 feet (2,779 m), it is the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America.
- The tunnel consists of twin tubes, both carrying two traffic lanes under the mouth of the East River.
- On October 28, 1940, the Construction on tunnel started but its completion was delayed due to World War II and it was officially opened on May 25, 1950.
- The Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel is a part of the Interstate Highway System.
- After former New York Governor Hugh Carey, the tunnel was officially renamed in 2012.
Sixth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Eisenhower Tunnel
The Eisenhower Tunnel is officially known as the Eisenhower–Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel. It is a four-lane vehicular tunnel located in the western United States.
- With a maximum elevation of 11,158 feet (3,401 m) above sea level, it is the longest mountain tunnel and the highest vehicular tunnel in the USA.
- It was opened in 1973 and is named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. President.
- It is a twin-bore tunnel whose eastbound bore was completed in 1979 and is named after Edwin C. Johnson, a governor and U.S. Senator.
- The length of the westbound tunnel i.e. the Eisenhower Memorial Bore is 1.693 miles (2.72 km) while the Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Bore, the eastbound tunnel is 1.697 miles (2.73 km) long.
Seventh Longest Tunnel in the USA – Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel, a vehicular tunnel, is located under the Hudson River connecting Hudson Square and Lower Manhattan in New York City in the east to Jersey City, New Jersey in the west.
- Being 1.62 miles in length, it is one of three vehicular crossings between Manhattan and New Jersey; the two others are the Lincoln Tunnel and George Washington Bridge.
- In 1920, construction of the tunnel was started, and it was opened in 1927, making it one of the oldest road tunnels in the country.
- It was the world’s first mechanically ventilated tunnel. The ventilation system was designed by Ole Singstad, who was also in charge of the tunnel’s completion.
- Named in memory of Clifford Milburn Holland, the initial chief engineer of the tunnel who died in 1924 before the tunnel’s opening.
- The Holland Tunnel is managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Eighth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Ted Williams Tunnel
The Ted Williams Tunnel is a highway tunnel located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. With a length of 1.6 miles, it is one of the longest tunnels in the United States.
- Established in 1995, it is the longest interstate highway in the country.
- Owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it consists of 6 lanes and has a speed limit of 40 mph.
- The tunnel is named after the Boston Red Sox baseball legend Ted Williams.
- Constructed from twelve “binocular” shaped steel sections, it was the first major link constructed as part of Boston’s Big Dig.
- It opened in 1995, initially, it was only available for commercial traffic. Later, on weekends and holidays, non-commercial traffic was allowed. In 2003, the tunnel was opened to all traffic at all times.
- The tunnel is 8,448 feet (2,575 m) long, of which approximately 3,960 feet (1,210 m) are underwater.
Ninth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel is a tunnel situated under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey, to the west with Midtown Manhattan in New York City to the east. With an approximately 1.5-mile-long (2.4 km), it is the third-longest traffic tunnel in that area.
- Designed by Ole Singstad, it was named after Abraham Lincoln.
- Originally proposed in the late 1920s and early 1930s as the Midtown Hudson Tunnel, its three separate tunnels were opened in 1937, 1945, and 1957, respectively.
- Owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, this tunnel is also one of six tolled crossings in the New York area.
Tenth Longest Tunnel in the USA – Fort McHenry Tunnel
The Fort McHenry Tunnel is a bi-directional tunnel. With a length of 1.5 miles, it is the second-longest tunnel in the Baltimore area.
- It is the lowest point in the Interstate System underwater and is named due to its location near Fort McHenry.
- It consists of 8 lanes with house traffic in 4 separate tubes with an operating speed limit of 55 mph.
- Constructed from May 1980 to November 1985, it was the most expensive underwater tunnel project in the United States at the time of its opening on November 23, 1985.
- Crossing the Patapsco River, south of Fort McHenry, this tunnel connects the Locust Point and Canton areas of Baltimore City.
Conclusion – Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the USA
Tunnels are one of the most amazing achievements of engineering. They handle traffic effectively and are sometimes laid through mountains and even water to satisfy the demands of highways and roads. The United States is home to several historic road tunnels and underwater vehicular tunnels. These tunnels are incredibly long, stretching from 2.6 miles to 1.5 miles in length. The majority of these tunnels run on multiple routes and have around 4 to 8 lanes. These incredible tunnels have made high-speed travel possible through cities without the use of aircraft.
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FAQs on Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the USA
Which is the most famous tunnel in the United States?
The United States has many famous tunnels. The Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel is located in Colorado and is known to be the world’s highest road tunnel, with an elevation of 11,158 feet.
What is the longest underwater tunnel in the USA?
The Delaware Aqueduct is not only the longest underwater tunnel in the USA but also the world’s longest tunnel. With a length of 85 miles, this tunnel carries almost half of the water supply in New York City.
What’s the deepest tunnel in the world?
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a railway tunnel situated under the Saint-Gotthard Massif in the Lepontine Alps in southern Switzerland. It is the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, with a length of 57 km and a maximum depth of 2,300 metres (7,546 feet).
Which is the longest tunnel in Asia?
The Zojila Tunnel, measuring 14.5 kilometres long, is Asia’s longest tunnel. It is to be completed by 2030 and will connect the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Which country has the maximum number of tunnels?
China has the largest number of tunnels in the world. There are 16,229 tunnels in China. Japan has the maximum number of tunnels in the world.