Alter Elbtunnel

Tunnels Hamburg, Germany

426 meters of the Elbe tunnel (24 meters deep), a piece of engineering history and a pastime when it rains in Hamburg.

This was a big improvement for tens of thousands of workers in one of the busiest harbours in the world. Four huge lifts on either side of the tunnel carried pedestrians, carriages and motor vehicles to the bottom. The two tunnels are both still in operation, though due to their limited capacity by today's standards, other bridges and tunnels have been built and taken over most of the traffic. In 2008 approx 300,000 cars, 63,000 bicycles and 700,000 pedestrians used the tunnel. The tunnel is opened 24 hours for pedestrians and bicycles. For motorized vehicles opening times are currently Monday to Friday from 5.20 AM to 8.00 PM, on Saturdays from 5.20 AM to 4.00 PM.