Broadway Tunnel

Lots of good pics here of the tunnel.

1902, South approach to the Broadway Tunnel and the stairway leading up to Fort Hill. A man is riding a horse-drawn wagon into the tunnel while two men are crossing the unpaved road and appear to also be heading toward the tunnel opening. There was a sign over the Tunnel that read,  “$50.00 fine for riding through this tunnel faster than a walk.”  Thanks to Water & Power.  

1925, View of the south portal of the Broadway Tunnel, near Broadway and Temple Street.  The ‘5 line’ streetcar 1435 can be seen headed southbound on Broadway.

A LITTLE HISTORY

The Broadway Tunnel was closed for reconstruction in 1915. The roadway was lowered to decrease the grade, wood block flooring was installed to provide a noiseless surface for the traffic of teams and automobiles, and a false roof was built inside the original shell. Because of the lowering, it was necessary to make a cut of 14 feet in California Street and to change the grade of North Broadway from Temple Street to the tunnel. The concrete archway of the Broadway Tunnel was 20 feet high, and the entire bore was lined with white glazed tile. The stairway on the outer face of the southern portal was extended to a rise of 65 feet to Fort Moore Hill.

1926, Straight-on view showing the full extent of the Broadway Tunnel as seen through the southern portal looking north. Several pedestrians are seen walking through the tunnel on the sidewalk adjacent to the road. A steel-frame pedestrian staircase makes its way up the front face of the tunnel.

1926, View looking south showing the northern portal of the Broadway Tunnel as seen from Sunset Boulevard.  Cars are going in and out of the tunnel while pedestrians are seen walking on the sidewalk at right.  Note the signboards that surround the tunnel opening.

LOOKING SOUTH AT THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE

1929, Southwest corner of North Broadway and Sunset Boulevard, showing the north portal of the Broadway Tunnel, which later was demolished, the hill removed and the street widened. The newly constructed City Hall, 1928, can be seen in the background.

The tunnel was located on Broadway, south of Sunset Boulevard, and north of Temple.

1930, Looking north showing the Broadway Tunnel with the steel-frame pedestrian staircase now removed.  The 1925-built Hall of Justice is seen on the right.

The southern entrance of the Broadway Tunnel with the Hall of Justice in the foreground.  North of the Hall of Justice is the Alhambra Hotel.  

Okay, this shot is looking south on Broadway, and you can see the Alhambra Hotel there on the left.  

Okay, this shot is looking south, too, with the Alhambra Hotel on the left and then the Alhambra Annex or Alhambra Hotel Apartments on the right.  

1935, Looking south toward the northern portal of the Broadway Portal from Sunset Boulevard with billboards all around the tunnel entrance.

1944, View looking north showing the entrance to the Broadway Tunnel on September 4, 1944.  Herald-Examiner Collection. 

Okay, this shot is looking north on Broadway with the Broadway Tunnel drawn there in the distant center of the sketch. 

Here's a view of the entrance from the north during its demolition in 1949

1949, View showing the north end of the Broadway Tunnel as it is being razed to make room for the construction of the Hollywood Freeway. An electric streetcar moves along the tunnel by-pass tracks just in front of the Federal Courthouse and City Hall at left. The Los Angeles County Hall of Justice is partially visible behind the tunnel.  Photo Date:  June 11, 1949.

1949 – View showing the Broadway Tunnel’s south entrance at the time of its demolition, with construction equipment and workers above the tunnel. The Board of Education building is visible in the background [to the west] on Fort Moore Hill. Today, the 101 Freeway runs below the ground level seen in the image, and the ground level shown is now the overcrossing of the freeway.