TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1934, Page 5

TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING

TUNNEL UNDER THE MERSEY

LONGEST UNDERWATER ROAD

FORMAL OPENING BY KING

‘NOBLE CREATIONS OF MAN’

British Wireless. Rugby, July 18; Over 120,000 people were present at the ceremony at Liverpool to-day when the King, pressing a golden switch, formally opened the Mersey tunnel, which is the longest underwater roadway in the world and one of the greatest engineering achievements of modern times. The tunnel will be called the Queensway, in honour of Her Majesty, who was present.

In his speech the King referred to the tunnel as “this miracle,” and in a striking passage said: “Who can reflect without awe that the will-power of men, which in our time has created noble bridges over the Thames, Forth and Hudson Rivers and Sydney Harbour, can drive also tunnels such as this where, in many streams, wheeled traffic may run in light and safety below the depth and turbulence of tidal water bearing the ships of the world. I praise the imagination that made the plan possible and the strong arms that endured in bringing this work to completion.” When the King pressed the switch green and gold curtains rolled back, revealing the entrance of the tunnel. In the place'of honour at the ceremony, close to the Royal dais, was a company of workmen of every trade who had been engaged on the tunnel. They were in their working kit of dungarees and blue shirts, carpenters’ overalls, oilskins and oilskin caps. Six foremen were presented to the King. Their Majesties afterwards drove through the tunnel, which has soft diffused lights and holds four lines of traffic. They remarked upon the freshness of the air, which comes through the special ventilation shafts, able to deliver 5,000,000 cubic feet of air a minute. Tire £8,000,000 two-mile long and 44ft. wide Mersey Tunnel has taken 2000 workmen eight years to build. It is designed exclusively for motor traffic and is the world’s largest underwater roadway. It will link Liverpool and Bootle on the Lancashire side with Birkenhead and Wallasey on the Cheshire side. The King during the day, which was marked by exceptional enthusiasm of great crowds, also opened the £3,000,000 East Lancashire Road and the 130-acre Walton Hall Park.