New York Cheap Car Rentals and The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was opened in 1950 and connects two of New York’s most diverse boroughs. On the Brooklyn side you’ll find a variety of beautiful brownstone neighborhoods filled with bustling shops and restaurants, while the Manhattan end is located in the heart of downtown, next to Wall Street and the South Street Seaport. A major feat of engineering genius, the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is the longest underwater vehicular pathway in North America, providing over 60,000 vehicles access to lower Manhattan and Brooklyn each day. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel system in NY is a definite must-see for any first time visitor to the area, so be sure to check it out in your upcoming New York cheap car rental from All Car Rent-A-Car.

Cool Facts about the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

  • The original Brooklyn Battery crossing proposal was for a six lane tunnel crossing was changed to a six lane bridge crossing back in the 1930s when famed architect Robert Moses took over the deal. This deal was officially quashed on July 17, 1939 as it required the destruction of too much waterfront property.
  • The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel system took almost 10 years to complete between October 28th, 1940 and May 25th 1950, due to material shortages during the Second World War.
  • Over 1 million pounds of dynamite was used to blast through the rack earth beneath New York Harbor
  • The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel cost $90,568,000 to complete, measuring in at over 9,117 feet

History of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

Like many other New York City tunnels, the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was designed and engineered by the prominent tunnel tycoon Ole Singstad of the New York Tunnel Authority. Progress on the tunnel moved relatively quickly during the first few years of production, and it was estimated that completion of the pathway could occur as quickly as 1943. This was a short lived dream though, as World War II induced iron and steel shortages brought construction to a halt until late 1945. When construction commenced on the tunnel the newly combined Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority was put in charge of the project, assigning Robert Moses as head engineer. When the tunnel was finally complete some ten years later it became and instant automotive hit, carrying some 41,000 vehicles per day during its first complete year of public operation. Today the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is owned and operated by the MTA Bridges and Tunnel Authority, which is also in charge of other notable New York cheap car rental pathways including the Queens Midtown Tunnel.

What to Expect when Crossing the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

If you’ve never been through a tunnel before, chances are you may be a little bit anxious of what to expect! But don’t worry, traveling through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in your New York cheap car rental is nothing to be afraid of – millions of Americans do it each and every week! The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is extremely well built, consisting of some 13,900 tones of steel, 883,391 bolts and 205,000 cubic yards of cement. The tunnel is also well fumigated thanks to 53 fans located throughout the tunnel, which help to release over 6,152,000 cubic feet of fresh air over a time period of 90 minutes. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is also well lit and easy to find, thanks to clearly designated road signs and street markings. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has also recently undergone a massive rehabilitation program which consisted of a new ceiling, and lighting system; a new roadway and drainage system; new ventilation ducts and fans; and even a new traffic control and signal system. All in all the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is a safe transportation outlet that’s perfect for anyone looking to travel between Manhattan and Brooklyn in their New York cheap car rental!

If you would like more information on the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel System, or any other MTA run roadway, please feel free to visit their website at www.mta.info. It currently costs $4.50 to cross the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in your New York cheap car rental, so don’t forget to pack some cash during your upcoming tunnel trip!

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 610 Warren St., Brooklyn, NY 11217