The Bankhead Tunnel: A Historic Underwater Passage

The Bankhead Tunnel, officially named the John H. Bankhead Tunnel, is more than just a way to cross the Mobile River; it's a piece of history. Constructed between 1938 and 1940 as a New Deal project during the Great Depression, the tunnel provided much-needed jobs for the local community. The tunnel is named after John H. Bankhead, a former U.S. Senator from Alabama and grandfather of actress Tallulah Bankhead. The tunnel was built in sections at the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO), then floated to their designated positions, sunk, and joined underwater. This pioneering engineering feat, completed at a cost of $4 million (over $65 million today), shortened the commute between Mobile and the Eastern Shore by 7.5 miles. The tunnel opened to the public on February 20, 1941. The entrances are designed in the Art Deco style, popular during its construction. The tunnel is 3,389 feet (1,033 m) long, with a clearance of 40 feet (12.2 m) for the ship channel above. A toll was charged on the eastern side until the mid-1970s. Today, only passenger cars and pickup trucks are permitted due to its narrow lanes. The Bankhead Tunnel has also made its mark in popular culture, appearing in Steven Spielberg's 1977 blockbuster "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The tunnel remains a vital transportation link, with approximately 14,000 vehicles passing through it daily.