 Due to the importance of the artery of travel, through which thousands of automobiles, teams and pedestrians would be passing daily, an event was held on Saturday, February 19, formally turning the tunnel over to the city, with the Automobile Club of Southern California in charge.The Broadway Tunnel was closed on June 2, 1949.It was demolished for the construction of the new Hollywood Freeway (U.S. Route 101) through Downtown.