Accession Number

B232

Series Title

[UNKNOWN]

Programme Title

LIVERPOOL: MERSEY TUNNEL BREAKTHROUGH

Producer

[Unknown]

Other Credits

[Unknown]

Transmission Date

01/01/69

colour , sound (sep), 15 mins 16 secs

Synopsis

Programme about the history of the construction of tunnels linking Liverpool and the Wirral. There are aerial shots of the River Mersey, Liverpool and Wirral, the Runcorn Bridge, etc. Includes black and white archive footage of the official opening of the Birkenhead Tunnel (the longest and widest underwater tunnel in the world at the time) on 18 July 1934: Mr Brian Cahoon, Engineer, speaks about the tunnel's construction, ferries are seen on the River Mersey and King George V makes a speech officially opening the Birkenhead Tunnel. Various engineers are interviewed about the construction of the second tunnel - the two-lane Wallasey / Kingsway Tunnel, which was officially opened on 24 June 1971. Construction methods for the new tunnel are described, including 'the mole' drilling machine. Various miners are interviewed about the dangers of the work and there are shots of the men in the 'mole cabin' having a tea break. The men who made the decision to use 'the mole' are interviewed and state it was the right decision (runs out of sync). Ends with a man predicting that other Mersey crossings will be necessary soon. (Sections of picture missing throughout.)