John H. Wilson Tunnels
Encyclopedia
The John H. Wilson Tunnels are a pair of highway tunnel
s passing through the Ko‘olau Range on the island of O‘ahu
. The tunnels are located on Likelike Highway (Route 63), which connects Kāneʻohe with Honolulu, and are 2775 feet (845.8 m) long westbound and 2813 feet (857.4 m) long eastbound, at 21°22′39"N 157°48′54"W.
The tunnels are named after former Honolulu Mayor John H. Wilson, who built the first carriage road over the Nu‘uanu Pali
in 1898. While mayor, Wilson advocated a tunnel connecting Kaneohe with Honolulu through Kalihi Valley. The City and County of Honolulu spent US$12 million on the tunnels and highway. Construction started on the Honolulu-bound tunnel in January 1954, and the Kāneʻohe-bound tunnel in 1957. Five lives were lost during their construction, and they were opened to traffic in November 1960.
The tunnels are now maintained by the Hawaii State Department of Transportation.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s passing through the Ko‘olau Range on the island of O‘ahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. The tunnels are located on Likelike Highway (Route 63), which connects Kāneʻohe with Honolulu, and are 2775 feet (845.8 m) long westbound and 2813 feet (857.4 m) long eastbound, at 21°22′39"N 157°48′54"W.
The tunnels are named after former Honolulu Mayor John H. Wilson, who built the first carriage road over the Nu‘uanu Pali
Nuuanu Pali
Nuuanu Pali is a section of the windward cliff of the Koolau mountain located at the head of Nuuanu Valley on the island of Oahu. It has a panoramic view of the windward coast of Oahu...
in 1898. While mayor, Wilson advocated a tunnel connecting Kaneohe with Honolulu through Kalihi Valley. The City and County of Honolulu spent US$12 million on the tunnels and highway. Construction started on the Honolulu-bound tunnel in January 1954, and the Kāneʻohe-bound tunnel in 1957. Five lives were lost during their construction, and they were opened to traffic in November 1960.
The tunnels are now maintained by the Hawaii State Department of Transportation.