Most holidaymakers from Greater Manchester heading to the North Wales coastline will travel down the A55, North Wales' busiest road, but most travellers are completely unaware of a decades-old tradition that has a very special meaning.
The North Wales Expressway carries an increasing volume of traffic each year, and was originally built to link Chester and Bangor, travelling alongside the railway. According to our sister site North Wales Live, work to upgrade the road started in the 1930s, with workers brought into the project from elsewhere in North Wales, many of them former coal miners forced out of their jobs by the Great Depression.
Not much is known about the history of the road, but two workers reportedly lost their lives during construction of the Penmaenbach tunnel, which one man was reportedly told to help dig or "lose your dole", sparking a sweet tradition for people passing through. Local drivers are often taught to "beep-beep" as they pass through the tunnel in memory of the two workers.
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The tradition was recently brought back under the spotlight when Kara E Prior posted in the public A55 Traffic, Incidents, Information Facebook group: "Some of you may recognise this tunnel on the North Wales coast between Penmaenmawr and Conwy. It is the “beep beep” tunnel! As locals, this tunnel means a lot but for those of you wonderful travellers that may not know, there is a reason we beep twice (hence the name).
"When the tunnel was being constructed, we sadly lost 2 men to the build. Out of a mark of respect to them, the tunnel received 2 beeps from travellers as they passed through. This still continues today." The post was shared well over a thousand times and liked by more than two thousand users. Jennie Murphy replied: "We did it in 60's as there was always an echo reply loved it"
Whilst Joan Jones remembered: "As a child I can recall our trips to Anglesey and my father always beep beep the horn as we went through the tunnel. This was always the highlight of our days out when several cars joined in with the beep beep! Glorious childhood memories".
Some people who had always heard the beeps but had never known why were astonished to hear the deeper meaning. Ruthie Marsh Kershaw said: "Wow I never knew this..... my dad used to beep every time we went through when I was little then it stopped as I got older. Never knew the reason why people beep.."
"Never knew this! How sad...will definitely be beeping now! X" added an equally amazed Julie James.
Back in January it was revealed that the 658-metre long Penmaenbach Tunnel was also named the best road tunnel in the UK for motorists to enjoy the sound of their cars, according to Alfa Romeo. It topped their rankings, after being judged to provide the best acoustic environment to fully appreciate a car’s engine and exhaust sounds - a fitting shrine.
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