With the growth of the port on the south side of the Elbe since the 1870s, the number of shipyard and industrial workers who had to cross the Elbe twice daily also increased. The small harbor ferries soon could no longer handle the crowds, and the ferry service was too dependent on the weather. The call for a reliable connection from Steinwerder to the port grew louder. Due to limited space, a tunnel with vertical access was the only sensible solution – but it was not until March 1907 that the Senate approved the necessary funds for the costly major project.
In July 1907, the first groundbreaking took place under the direction of Otto von Stockhausen. The construction cost a total of 10.7 million gold marks and involved 4,400 workers. First, the 426.5 m long tunnel tubes were built piece by piece, lined with iron tubbings, and additionally secured with concrete against buoyancy. Then the elevators and electrical wiring were installed before the tunnel walls were finally tiled and decorated with ornaments. The ceremonial opening took place on September 7, 1911. The tunnel was placed under monument protection in 2003 and was honored as a "historic landmark of engineering art in Germany" on its 100th anniversary in 2011.With the growth of the port on the south side of the Elbe since the 1870s, the number of shipyard and industrial workers who had to cross the Elbe twice daily also increased. The small harbor ferries soon could no longer handle the crowds, and the ferry service was too dependent on the weather. The call for a reliable connection from Steinwerder to the port grew louder. Due to limited space, a tunnel with vertical access was the only sensible solution – but it was not until March 1907 that the Senate approved the necessary funds for the costly major project.
In July 1907, the first groundbreaking took place under the direction of Otto von Stockhausen. The construction cost a total of 10.7 million gold marks and involved 4,400 workers. First, the 426.5 m long tunnel tubes were built piece by piece, lined with iron tubbings, and additionally secured with concrete against buoyancy. Then the elevators and electrical wiring were installed before the tunnel walls were finally tiled and decorated with ornaments. The ceremonial opening took place on September 7, 1911. The tunnel was placed under monument protection in 2003 and was honored as a "historic landmark of engineering art in Germany" on its 100th anniversary in 2011.Mit dem Wachstum des Hafens auf der Südseite der Elbe seit den 1870er Jahren stieg auch die Zahl der Werft- und Industriearbeiter, die täglich zweimal die Elbe überqueren mussten. Die kleinen Hafenfähren konnten die Menschenmengen bald nicht mehr bewältigen, zudem war der Fährverkehr zu stark von der Witterung abhängig. Der Ruf nach einer zuverlässigen Verbindung von Steinwerder zum Hafen wurde immer lauter. Aufgrund des begrenzten Platzes war ein Tunnel mit senkrechten Zugängen die einzig sinnvolle Lösung – aber erst im März 1907 bewilligte der der Senat die notwendigen finanziellen Mittel für das kostspielige Großprojekt.
Im Juli 1907 folgte der erste Spatenstich unter der Leitung von Otto von Stockhausen. Insgesamt 10,7 Millionen Goldmark kostete der Bau, an dem 4.400 Arbeiter beteiligt waren. Zunächst wurden Stück für Stück die 426,5 m langen Tunnelröhren gebaut, mit Eisen-Tübbings ausgekleidet und zusätzlich mit Beton gegen das Aufschwimmen gesichert. Danach installierte man die Fahrstühle und Stromleitungen, bevor schließlich die Tunnelwände gekachelt und mit Ornamenten versehen wurden. Die feierliche Eröffnung fand am 7. September 1911 statt. Der Tunnel wurde 2003 unter Denkmalschutz gestellt und zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum 2011 als „historisches Wahrzeichen der Ingenieursbaukunst in Deutschland“ ausgezeichnet.
Tunnel Vision (Elbe Tunnel)Tunnel Vision (Elbe Tunnel)Tunnelblick (Elbtunnel )
With the growth of the port on the south side of the Elbe since the 1870s, the number of shipyard and industrial workers who had to cross the Elbe twice daily also increased. The small harbor ferries soon could no longer handle the crowds, and the ferry service was too dependent on the weather. The call for a reliable connection from Steinwerder to the port grew louder. Due to limited space, a tunnel with vertical access was the only sensible solution – but it was not until March 1907 that the Senate approved the necessary funds for the costly major project.In July 1907, the first groundbreaking took place under the direction of Otto von Stockhausen. The construction cost a total of 10.7 million gold marks and involved 4,400 workers. First, the 426.5 m long tunnel tubes were built piece by piece, lined with iron tubbings, and additionally secured with concrete against buoyancy. Then the elevators and electrical wiring were installed before the tunnel walls were finally tiled and decorated with ornaments. The ceremonial opening took place on September 7, 1911. The tunnel was placed under monument protection in 2003 and was honored as a "historic landmark of engineering art in Germany" on its 100th anniversary in 2011.With the growth of the port on the south side of the Elbe since the 1870s, the number of shipyard and industrial workers who had to cross the Elbe twice daily also increased. The small harbor ferries soon could no longer handle the crowds, and the ferry service was too dependent on the weather. The call for a reliable connection from Steinwerder to the port grew louder. Due to limited space, a tunnel with vertical access was the only sensible solution – but it was not until March 1907 that the Senate approved the necessary funds for the costly major project.
In July 1907, the first groundbreaking took place under the direction of Otto von Stockhausen. The construction cost a total of 10.7 million gold marks and involved 4,400 workers. First, the 426.5 m long tunnel tubes were built piece by piece, lined with iron tubbings, and additionally secured with concrete against buoyancy. Then the elevators and electrical wiring were installed before the tunnel walls were finally tiled and decorated with ornaments. The ceremonial opening took place on September 7, 1911. The tunnel was placed under monument protection in 2003 and was honored as a "historic landmark of engineering art in Germany" on its 100th anniversary in 2011.Mit dem Wachstum des Hafens auf der Südseite der Elbe seit den 1870er Jahren stieg auch die Zahl der Werft- und Industriearbeiter, die täglich zweimal die Elbe überqueren mussten. Die kleinen Hafenfähren konnten die Menschenmengen bald nicht mehr bewältigen, zudem war der Fährverkehr zu stark von der Witterung abhängig. Der Ruf nach einer zuverlässigen Verbindung von Steinwerder zum Hafen wurde immer lauter. Aufgrund des begrenzten Platzes war ein Tunnel mit senkrechten Zugängen die einzig sinnvolle Lösung – aber erst im März 1907 bewilligte der der Senat die notwendigen finanziellen Mittel für das kostspielige Großprojekt.
Im Juli 1907 folgte der erste Spatenstich unter der Leitung von Otto von Stockhausen. Insgesamt 10,7 Millionen Goldmark kostete der Bau, an dem 4.400 Arbeiter beteiligt waren. Zunächst wurden Stück für Stück die 426,5 m langen Tunnelröhren gebaut, mit Eisen-Tübbings ausgekleidet und zusätzlich mit Beton gegen das Aufschwimmen gesichert. Danach installierte man die Fahrstühle und Stromleitungen, bevor schließlich die Tunnelwände gekachelt und mit Ornamenten versehen wurden. Die feierliche Eröffnung fand am 7. September 1911 statt. Der Tunnel wurde 2003 unter Denkmalschutz gestellt und zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum 2011 als „historisches Wahrzeichen der Ingenieursbaukunst in Deutschland“ ausgezeichnet.