In 1906, the Hudson River ferries were carrying nearly 3 million vehicles between New York and New Jersey each year and city planners were looking for a more efficient way to accommodate the growing number of automobiles. A coalition was established to try to come up with a feasible solution for building a bridge from Manhattan to Jersey City.
Because the Manhattan side of the Hudson River did not meet the elevation requirement (200-feet) for ships to travel under the bridge, it was decided in 1913 that a tunnel under the river would be a more realistic option.
After several years and $54 million, the Holland Tunnel opened at midnight on November 13, 1927. The tunnel under the Hudson River became the first fixed-vehicle crossing between New York and New Jersey.
A truck carrying a shipment to Bloomingdale’s in Manhattan was the first non-official vehicle to pass through and pay a toll at Canal Street. On that first day 51,694 vehicles traveled through its two tubes, each paying a 50-cent toll. Now, 80 years later, 93,300 vehicles travel through the Holland Tunnel every day, paying a toll of $6.00 per car.
