Figueroa Street Tunnels facts for kids
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| Looking northeast through the third and fourth tunnels | |
| Overview | |
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| Location | Elysian Park, Los Angeles |
| Coordinates | 34°04′23″N 118°14′02″W / 34.07306°N 118.23389°W |
| Route | Northbound lanes of  SR 110 |
| Operation | |
| Operator | Caltrans |
| Technical | |
| Length | 755, 461, 130, and 405 ft (230, 141, 40, and 123 m, respectively) |
| Tunnel clearance | 28.3 ft (8.6 m) |
| Width | 46.5 feet (14 m) |
The Figueroa Street Tunnels are a set of four tunnels in Los Angeles, California. They carry the northbound traffic of State Route 110 (the Arroyo Seco Parkway) through Elysian Park. These tunnels are important for helping cars move through the city.
From south to north, the tunnels measure 755, 461, 130, and 405 feet long. They are about 46.5 feet wide and 28.3 feet high. The tunnels were designed by engineer Merrill Butler. He also designed other famous bridges in Los Angeles.
The tunnels have cool Art Deco designs. They also feature special street lamps and shiny tiles. You can even see a stylized Seal of Los Angeles at their openings.
Traffic through these tunnels is usually very busy. At the north end, there's a big road connection with Interstate 5. This is also known as the Golden State Freeway.
Why Were the Tunnels Built?
The Figueroa Street Tunnels were built to help traffic flow better in Los Angeles. Before the tunnels, cars had to use crowded bridges to cross the Los Angeles River. These bridges connected downtown Los Angeles to places like Pasadena. The hills of Elysian Park made it hard to build direct roads. So, tunnels were the perfect solution.
When Did the Tunnels Open?
The first three tunnels opened in 1931. They helped connect North Broadway to Riverside Drive. This made it easier to travel along the Los Angeles River. These tunnels had two lanes for each direction of traffic. They also had a sidewalk for people to walk on.
The fourth and longest tunnel opened in 1935. This tunnel extended the road further south to Figueroa Street. In 1940, the Arroyo Seco Parkway opened. This was a new, faster road that connected the tunnels to Pasadena.
How Did the Tunnels Change?
Over time, the tunnels and surrounding roads were improved. In 1943, a new road was built next to the tunnels. This new road helped separate traffic. The tunnels then carried traffic going in one direction, and the new road carried traffic going the other way.
Later, in 1953, the road was extended even further. It connected to the Four Level Interchange. This is a very complex road junction in Los Angeles. It connects several major freeways.
In 2008, the lights inside the tunnels were updated. They replaced old lights with new, more energy-efficient ones. This helps keep the tunnels bright and safe for drivers.
