Long Beach's 'Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd' Inspires New Lana Del Rey Track

LONG BEACH, CA — Grammy-nominated singer Lana Del Rey's new single "Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd" is about Long Beach's very own Jergins Tunnel.

The single was released Wednesday and mentioned well-known features of the tunnel lying under the main street that is now sealed.

"Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard? Mosaic ceilings, painted tiles on the wall. I can't help but feel somewhat like my body marred my soul Handmade beauty sealed up by two man-made walls," the singer says in the first verse of the song.

The singer is no stranger to Long Beach references, covering "Doin Time" by Long Beach band Sublime in May of 2019 and mentioning the city in her album "Norman Fucking Rockwell!" later that year in August.

"I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe. I miss dancing with you the most of all," Del Rey sings in the album's track 11 "The Greatest"

Jergins Tunnel was first opened in 1928 and served as a way to connect the original Pike and the beach via the Jergins Trust building at 100 E. Ocean Blvd., as told by the Long Beach Public Library in a Tweet.

The building and tunnel were closed to the public by 1967 and were demolished in 1988. There are very few original structures connected to the building and the tunnel that remain today including pillars that go down Pine Avenue and original pillars from the building at the entrance to the Wilmore Heritage Garden.

For now, people who are interested in seeing a virtual tour of what the tunnel currently looks like can look around thanks to a tour posted on Matterport.

In March of 2021, the Long Beach Planning Commission approved plans to build a 30-story hotel where the property used to stand, on the condition that the developer reopened the tunnel to the public, according to the Long Beach Post.

Construction was delayed due to the pandemic, but if construction moves forward the project would take about two years to be completed. Visitors would once again be able to see the tunnel that inspired Lana Del Rey's newest single and album, slated for release in March.