As a kid growing up in Contra Costa County, the Caldecott Tunnel always represented the excitement of going from the quiet suburbs into the throngs of the big cities of Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco. 
The tunnel was like a magic portal, not only spitting you out somewhere that despite being less than a mile away, looked and felt completely different.
There is nothing like the feeling of being in the Contra Costa summer heat, zipping through the tunnel and feeling the cool, damp air of the bay and catching a glimpse of the City and Golden Gate as you come down the last bits of the Oakland hills.
The tunnel also played a large part in the population explosion of Contra County in the 50s and 60s, around the time that my family moved there because of the easy access to my Grandfather’s job in San Francisco. It’s fair to say that without their construction, I might not even exist. When you factor that in, how could I not be interested in it? So join me as we take a look at its fascinating history in my latest episode.
The tunnels were designated an Oakland city landmark on January 22, 1980, forty-three years after they first opened. Check out Oakland’s local wiki page for more of their history or hop in your car and go check them out for yourself. Don’t forget to hold your breath for good luck!
Historic Bay Area 