Queens–Midtown Tunnel
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Queens Midtown Tunnel |
| Other name(s) | Midtown Tunnel |
| Location | Manhattan and Queens, New York City, New York, US |
| Coordinates | 40°44′44″N 73°57′53″W / 40.74556°N 73.96472°W |
| Route | I-495 Toll |
| Crosses | East River |
| Operation | |
| Opened | November 15, 1940 |
| Operator | MTA Bridges and Tunnels |
| Traffic | 73,470 (2016) |
| Toll |
|
| Technical | |
| Length | 6,414 feet (1,955 m) (northern tube) 6,272 feet (1,912 m) (southern tube) |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| Operating speed | 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) |
| Tunnel clearance | 12 feet 1 inch (3.68 m) |
| Route map | |
The Queens–Midtown Tunnel (often referred to as the Midtown Tunnel) is a vehicular tunnel under the East River in New York City, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens. The tunnel consists of a pair of tubes, each carrying two lanes. The west end of the tunnel is located on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan, while the east end of the tunnel is located in Long Island City in Queens. Interstate 495 (I-495) runs the entire length of the tunnel; I-495's western terminus is at the Manhattan portal of the tunnel.
The Queens–Midtown Tunnel was first planned in 1921, though the plans for the tunnel were modified over the following years. By the 1930s, the tunnel was being proposed as the Triborough Tunnel, which would connect Queens and Brooklyn with the east and west sides of Manhattan. The New York City Tunnel Authority finally started construction on the tunnel in 1936, although by then, the plans had been downsized to a connector between Queens and the east side of Manhattan. The tunnel, designed by Ole Singstad, was opened to traffic on November 15, 1940.
The Queens–Midtown Tunnel is owned by New York City and operated by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, an affiliate agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It is used by several dozen express bus routes. From 1981 to 2016, the Queens–Midtown Tunnel was also the site of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Animal Walk.