Costs
The total cost of creating the tunnel was £441,550, including the £110,000 land acquisition costs for either end. It was built in 1968 and 1969, and officially opened on 25 February 1970 by the Bailiff, Sir Robert Le Masurier, who was then driven through by Senator Leslie White, president of the Public Works Committee.
It is 830 feet long, 29 feet wide, 22 feet high, 50,000 tonnes of stone was removed from under the Fort and 4,000 cubic yards of concrete was used. The Tunnel was constructed by Edmund Nuttall, Sons and Co (London) Limited. The Explosives Magazines at Crabbe were originally created in 1968 for storing the explosives required for forming the Fort Regent Tunnel. The Consulting and Chartered Engineers were "G Maunsell and Partners".
The western approach was once part of "Le Chemin du Quai", part of which still exists and is part of Ordnance Yard.
The Cedars Flats were built upon the site of Gothic House and The Cedars. They were acquired for safety reasons in connection with blasting for the tunnel and because The States could not tunnel under someone else's land. The same applied to the other end of the tunnel where several properties were acquired on Pier Road, followed by the building of Clos du Fort flats.
Opening ceremony
The Bailiff, Sir Robert Le Masurier, cuts the tape to officially open the Tunnel, watched by Public Works Committee president Senator Leslie White
Senator White's Jaguar sets off through the Tunnel - Jersey Evening Post photographs
Gothic House
The Cedars, originally Maison du Mont
39 Pier Road, which was demolished
The buildings on the left were demolished
The western end before the start of demolition
The western frontage of Pier Road properties
Properties in Pier Road above the route of the tunnel were demolished
Demolition under way at the western end in 1968
The final blast at the Green Street end on 27 August 1969. Jerripedia editor Mike Bisson, then a reporter for the Jersey Evening Post was one of the figures in a white hat (but he can't recognise which!)
Breakthrough
Breakthrough celebrated
Final clearance at the Green Street end
Final clearance at the Green Street end
Final clearance at the Green Street end
The first bus leaves the Weighbridge ...
... and emerges at the Green Street end of the tunnel
The first traffic through the tunnel
The western entrance through Commercial Buildings
The tunnel at night
At first pedestrians were not allowed to use the tunnel but the public demanded access and walkways with railings were built
The western entrance
1970
Work starts at the eastern end in 1968
Demolition of Southdene
Cedars demolition
The Cedars
