Liverpool's iconic Queensway Tunnel marks 90 year anniversary

The Queensway Tunnel marks its 90th anniversary this week – and is celebrating with a series of free behind-the-scenes tours.

The route between Liverpool City Centre and Birkenhead took nine years to build by hand and was the longest road tunnel in the world when it was opened by King George V on 18 July 1934.

At 2.1 miles long, the original Mersey Tunnel remains an impressive feat of engineering and is currently undergoing an £11m upgrade to make it more energy efficient as the city region strives towards its target to be net-zero by 2035.

To celebrate its granite anniversary, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will open the doors to George’s Dock Building on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July to offer visitors a free behind the scenes tour of the Queensway Tunnel.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, shared:

“For 90 years, the Queensway Tunnel has been connecting both sides of the river and has formed a crucial part of our history, surviving a world war and coping with the surge of engine-powered vehicles.

“It is a prime example of the benefits of devolution. Nearly 100 years ago, after lobbying and a refusal of central government, the local authorities created a joint committee and built the tunnels – an incredible engineering feat that has hugely impacted on the city region from a social and economic perspective since.

“The tunnel has played an important role in history and continues to be a core part of our infrastructure today. Everyone living in and around the city region has memories of using the tunnel at some point in their lives, whether for work or to visit family or friends. It is also an essential form of travel for many businesses around the region, and, crucially, for our bus services.

“With more than 35,000 vehicles passing through the tunnel each day, maintenance is a priority. Thousands of hours are spent each year, the majority of which overnight, carrying out a vital and rigorous inspection and maintenance routine. In recent years, the Tunnel has seen impressive upgrades including to lighting and road surfaces, which will enhance our journey towards Net Zero.”

During the building process which began in 1925, 1,700 people worked in challenging conditions to build the tunnel – excavating 1.2 million tons of rock by hand and replacing it with 82,000 tons of cast iron and 270,000 tons of concrete.

Seventeen men lost their lives during construction and are still honoured annually on Workers Memorial Day.

When the tunnel opened on 18 July 1934, a million people descended on the city centre to watch the ceremony, which included 1,000 school children lining the streets dressed as flowers to form a human bouquet.

The only failure in engineering during the Tunnel’s creation came on opening day – the curtain covering the entrance had to be lifted by hand as the crank mechanism failed!

Work is currently taking place in the Queensway Tunnel to upgrade the lighting system, installing more than 1,000 LED light fittings that are more energy efficient and will play a big part in Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to make the city region net zero by 2035.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be opening the doors to George’s Dock Building on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July to offer visitors a free behind the scenes sneak peek of the Queensway Tunnel.

Visitors will be welcomed to from 10am and will have the chance to learn more about the history of the Queensway Tunnel, including hearing more about the men and women who have been involved historically in construction and maintaining the Queensway, as well finding out how the Tunnel is maintained and managed today, taking its life expectancy far beyond the initial proposed 100 years.