The Lincoln Tunnel is an approximately 1.5mi set of three tunnels under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan in New York City. An integral conduit within the New York Metropolitan Area, it was designed by Norwegian-born civil engineer Ole Singstad and named after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. It is one of two automobile tunnels built under the river, the other being the Holland Tunnel. In 2016, the Lincoln Tunnel carried a daily average of approximately 52,632 motor vehicles (or 19,210,919 for the year).The 8,216ft center tube opened in 1937, followed by the 7,482ft north tube in 1945. The 8,006ft south tube was the last to open, in 1957.The tunnel is part of NJ 495 on the western half of the river, and the unsigned NY 495 on the eastern half of the river.HistoryThe tunnel was originally to be named Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, but the planners eventually decided that the new tunnel deserved a name that was of similar importance to that of the George Washington Bridge, and named it after Abraham Lincoln.Designed by Ole Singstad, the tunnel was funded by the New Deal's Public Works Administration. Construction began on the first tube (now the center of the three tubes) in March 1934. It opened to traffic on December 22, 1937, charging $0.50 per passenger car. The cost of construction was $85 million.
