The Ernest A. Johnson Tunnel is pretty cool just on its own. This short tunnel connects Salisbury Street to Main Street while going beneath the Voke Lofts and related buildings. Did you know this S-curve tunnel was the filming location for both Black Panther 2 Wakanda Forever and for Liam Neeson’s Honest Thief?
Worcester’s Johnson Tunnel dates to 1956. It used to be one-way going out of Worcester, but now it’s one-way heading in. Main Street also does a cool “loop” around the exit of the tunnel, so you can look down on it from all angles. Maybe that’s why movie directors love it.
Plus, there’s the imposing structure of the old Worcester Courthouse towering over one side, and the new Worcester Courthouse a bit further on the left. So there’s strong architecture on both sides.
The Honest Thief with Liam Neeson’s famous ending scene, involving a car bomb, was filmed at the tunnel’s exit just beneath the old Worcester Courthouse in November 2018.
Black Panther 2’s chase scene screeched out of this tunnel in August 2021.
If you know of any other films involving the Johnson Tunnel, please let me know!
In the video we drive through Johnson Tunnel and a bit down Main Street, to the Palladium. Then we turn around and head back up Main Street to loop around the tunnel, so you can see it from all sides.
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