2nd Street Tunnel

Coordinates: 34°03′21″N 118°15′07″W / 34.0558°N 118.2519°W / 34.0558; -118.2519

2nd Street Tunnel

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. The Los Angeles Times described it 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 act similarly to a photographic light box, and, alteratively, to provided visually interesting, distorted, reflections of devices placed in it.[1]

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]

The tunnel runs from South Figueroa Street at the northwest to Hill Street at the southwest. 2nd Street also runs above for two blocks at the surface from Hill Street at the southwest to South Hope Street.

The tunnel is frequently used in movies – notably Blade Runner – and even more frequently in car advertisements from many manufacturers. 73 car ads were filmed in the tunnel from 2006 to 2008, averaging more than 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 west end is glamorous, with flaring buttresses. The east end is grittier.[1]

Other films in which the tunnel has appeared include: The Driver (1978), When a Stranger Calls (1979), Flashdance (1983), The Terminator (1984), Repo Man (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, "Bet" by Tinashe and "Feel Good (feat. Daya)" by Gryffin & Illenium

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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)
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