Courtesy of The Telegraph.
Dear Commons Community,
Norway is building a four-lane undersea tunnel that is set to become the world’s longest and deepest. As reported by The Telegraph.
The record-breaking project – known as Rogfast – will connect the districts of Randaberg and Bokn, which are separated by a 16-mile wide body of water. (See map below.)
By removing the need for ferries, the tunnel will slash 11 hours from a 21-hour journey on Norway’s E39 coastal highway, which runs from Trondheim, in the far north, to Kristiansand, in the south.
It will help millions of people commute to the cities of Stavanger and Bergen on the 680-mile road, which is interrupted seven times by the need for ferries to cross fjords.
Rogfast is part of an ambitious £36 billion upgrade project of the entire highway, which also includes plans for tunnels “floating” within the sea.
The Rogfast project manager said the current ferry service can be delayed by bad weather, prolonging journeys further – a problem that will not affect the tunnel.
“The port at Mortavika is quite exposed and, in the winter, ferries sometimes have to divert to another port,” said Oddvar Kaarmo.
“Once the tunnel is finished, we will not have to rely on good weather to keep the roads open. About half a year after the last drill and blast, we have to deliver the project, so we have to get a lot of work done simultaneously. It’s more about logistics than tunnelling.”
The mega-tunnel will be carved through a layer of rock underneath the water, and will take 35 minutes to drive through. It will have a four-lane dual tunnel design, with a maximum depth of 1,300 ft and length of 16.5 miles.
Norway has said the project’s budget will be roughly £1.6 billion. It is hoped it will make the export of goods easier and encourage tourism along the country’s west coast.
The Rogfast project is set to be completed in 2033
The government will pay for around 40 per cent of the project, with the rest covered by a £30 toll to use the tunnel.
Rogfast will overtake Norway’s Lærdal tunnel – which spans 15 miles between Lærdal and Aurland – as the world’s longest sub-sea road when it opens, and is slated for completion in 2033. Work began in 2018, but suffered severe delays due to the pandemic. Plans were originally approved by Norway’s parliament in 2017.
Good luck with this!
Tony
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