Remember Abner Doble? He secured the right to build a Broadway Tunnel back in 1863. But his plans never materialized. The Broadway Tunnel we see today is a testament to San Francisco’s persistent spirit. It finally opened in 1952.
The Broadway Tunnel is officially named the Robert C Levy Tunnel. It is a vital artery connecting Chinatown and North Beach to Russian Hill and Van Ness Avenue. Imagine San Francisco before this tunnel. Russian Hill streets had grades exceeding twenty percent. It was a major hindrance to the city’s expansion.
Initially, the 1948 Trafficways Plan envisioned the Broadway Tunnel as a link between the Embarcadero Freeway and the Central Freeway. Voters approved a $5 million bond to fund its construction. That is equivalent to over $50 million today. Construction began in May 1950. The tunnel’s completion faced delays. Loose rock required extra shoring. Mayor Elmer Robinson cut the ribbon on December 21, 1952.
Each tunnel bore is 1616 feet long. The Broadway Tunnel has two bores. Each bore carries two lanes of one-way traffic. The northern tunnel guides westbound traffic. The southern tunnel handles eastbound flow.
Look closely at the eastern portal. See the stylized dragon relief sculpture? Patti Bowler created it in bronze. It has been there since 1969. Above the eastern portal sits the Chinatown Public Health Center.
In 2008, artist Moose created a mural. He used reverse graffiti. He cleaned dirt from the western portal’s approach with pressure washing. He also used cardboard stencils.
The Broadway Tunnel has played a starring role in several films. Hells Angels on Wheels. Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Magnum Force. The Princess Diaries. War. What Dreams May Come. These movies all feature scenes filmed right here.
The Broadway Tunnel was named after Robert C Levy in 1986. He was the city engineer and superintendent of building inspection. A plaque honors his dedication. It reads, “He devoted his life to high standards of professionalism in engineering and to the City which he loved.”
Interestingly, a combined rail and road tunnel was proposed in 1913. It was part of an extension for the Municipal Railway. It would carry passengers to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. The tunnel would have included rail tracks, traffic lanes and sidewalks.
The Embarcadero Freeway once connected directly to Broadway. This boosted the Broadway Tunnel’s utility. The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake damaged the freeway. Its subsequent demolition reduced the tunnel’s importance.
Today, the Broadway Tunnel continues to serve as a vital transportation link. It helps to ease traffic congestion. It also symbolizes San Francisco’s enduring ability to overcome challenges. It connects communities. It inspires creativity. It has supported the arts, movies and city planning.