“Imagine driving a lorry through the heart of a rock” The Great North Road in Gibraltar isn’t your average road. It’s a colossal tunnel carved into the very Rock of Gibraltar. This remarkable feat of engineering was a World War II marvel. The British military built it to allow lorries to travel between the north and south of Gibraltar. They needed to move supplies and troops quickly and safely.
The Great North Road is more than just a passage. It’s a time capsule. It still houses remnants of a wartime city. Think Nissen huts kitchens and offices. An abandoned generating station stands as a silent witness to history. Even anti-submarine nets remain. They were designed to protect Gibraltar Harbour from enemy attack.
Construction began when the 180 Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers was formed in 1940. Other companies soon joined the effort. They created an underground city for 16500 troops. This included a telephone exchange a desalination plant a hospital and even a bakery. Everything was designed to withstand bombing. The project was completed in under three years.
The road itself is 60 feet wide. It starts at Maida Vale near Europa Road and extends north for almost a mile. It passes Brigade Headquarters and the Doncaster Adit. Along the way there are several smaller tunnels. These housed kitchens and an ammunition magazine. One of these smaller tunnels revealed Wilson’s Cave a previously unknown space within the Rock.
The Great North Road connects to other tunnel systems. This network extends to the north face of Gibraltar. There it meets the Great Siege Tunnels dating back to the 18th century. The addition of Fosse Way in 1944 provided a route through the entire Rock. This allowed travel from the northern to the southeastern side.
After the war the Great North Road remained significant. In 1956 a dinner was held in one of its large chambers. This celebrated the Royal Engineers’ centenary. It was a fitting tribute. The Royal Engineers’ history on the Rock goes back to the Great Siege. They were responsible for many of the initial tunnels.
Today the Ministry of Defence still owns the tunnel system. It’s used to train soldiers in subterranean warfare. You can even visit the Great North Road. Guided tours are available. They will take you through the tunnels showing you the remains of the World War II installations. It’s a journey through time. A walk through history. A unique experience you won’t forget.