Norway is going to build the largest and deepest road tunnel in the world. If I tell you to say things about Norway you might say snowy mountains, breathtaking fjords, and even the northern lights, right? But this country is also known for amazing engineering projects and this road tunnel is proving that.
Nowadays most constructions mean a positive impact on us or the environment. This project, called Rogfast, will completely change how people travel along Norway’s west road. So, let’s find out more about this road tunnel in Norway.
What’s the Rogfast tunnel?
This will be a road going under the sea, it will go under the Boknafjord (one of the largest fjords in Norway). Just knowing this seems impressive, but let’s see more features about it:
- It will be 16 miles long.
- It will reach almost 1,300 feet deep underwater.
- It will be larger and deeper than any other existing tunnel in the world.
So, this will give Norway an engineering record, another thing that this country will be known for.
Why Norway?
Today, travelling through the west coast of Norway can be difficult. Going from Stavanger city to Bergen city people tend to use ferries that sometimes are delayed, mostly because of bar weather. So, this tunnel will make the journey much easier and faster:
- It will reduce the travelling time from 212 hours to 10.5 hours.
- There will be no need to take 7 ferries.
- The route will be 31 miles shorter.
This will mean tourists will have an easier way to travel to Norway, and also workers who need travelling to other cities everyday.
Roundabouts underwater
The Rogfast tunnel won’t be just a simple straight road, engineers from Norway are thinking about building roundabouts inside the tunnel. Who would have thought the moment of underwater roundabouts would come?
The man leading the project, Oddvar Kaarmo, explained this is something rare and probably one of the first tunnels in the world to have two roundabouts in the same section.
Let’s talk about numbers and dates
This construction started in 2018, but it was stopped for a while in 2019 because of some issues with budget. Then, in 2021, workers resumed the construction.
And how much is this project? The project will cost about 25 billion Norwegian kroner (around 2.7 billion US dollars) and it will be paid for with government funding and tolls that drivers will pay when using the tunnel.
So, if everything goes as planned, Norway thinks the tunnel, which it is believed to be an economic benefit, will be ready to use in 2033.
Who will use it?
It is estimated that 6,000 vehicles will go through this tunnel per day, which will make economy improve since:
- Goods and products will be transported more quickly.
- More tourists will visit because traveling along the coast will be easier.
- Cities will be better connected, creating more opportunities for businesses.
In addition, there will be a 2.5-mile spur road connecting the tunnel to the island of Kvitsøy, giving its residents much better access to the mainland.
So…
This project is an evidence of how Norway combines natural beauty with innovation. This tunnel won’t only be a worldwide record, but also it will make thousands of people’s lives much easier when driving their cars.
Thanks to constructions like this, Norway proves it is possible to transform their landscapes into opportunities, joining cities, and reducing time travel.
We don’t know if this will influence other countries when the project is finished, but we know that in the future Norway will be also known for this amazing underwater road tunnel.