Wanderlust World Wanderlust World On February 20, 1986, Britain and France announced plans to build the Chunnel, an idea that had been around at least since Napoleon announced the concept in 1802. Ground was broken for construction in December 1987. Tunnels from either set met in the middle on October 20, 1990.
Queen Elizabeth of England and President François Mitterand of France opened the Chunnel on May 6, 1994. The Chunnel cost more than twice the original estimate.
About 16 million passengers a year ride the Chunnel. Debilitating fires in November 1996 and September 2008 shut the tunnel down for several months each time, and a massive snowstorm in December 2009 caused thousands of passengers to be stranded in the Chunnel.