Second World War military road tunnel inside Gibraltar’s Rock.
The Great North Road is a large road tunnel inside the Rock of Gibraltar. Built by the British military during World War II, it allowed lorries to cross Gibraltar underground. Still owned by the Ministry of Defence, it contains wartime buildings and installations, and guided tours can be arranged.
The Great North Road is a large road tunnel in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Constructed by the British military during World War II inside the Rock of Gibraltar, it formed part of an underground bombproof city with extensive facilities and roads for 16,500 troops. The road was built within a tunnel started when the 180 Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers was created in 1940, later joined by the 170 and 178 Companies. The 60‑foot‑wide road allowed military lorries to travel from the north to the south of Gibraltar entirely within the Rock. The tunnel starts at Maida Vale behind the old casino on Europa Road, passes Brigade Headquarters and Doncaster Adit, and ends at the now abandoned Calpe Hole Generating Station, linking with other tunnels including the Great Siege Tunnels. Inside remain World War II buildings such as Nissen huts, kitchens, offices, a generating station and anti-submarine nets. A large side chamber hosted a 1956 centenary dinner for the Royal Engineers. Today the system remains Ministry of Defence property and is used to train troops for subterranean work. Guided tours of about two hours can be arranged along almost one mile of tunnel.
