Norway has announced ambitious plans for an expensive underwater megatunnel. This new project will surpass the country’s current longest tunnel, the renowned Lærdal Tunnel, which stretches over 15 miles.
The Lærdal Tunnel, completed in five years, links the municipalities of Lærdal and Aurland. Due to its considerable length, designers had to implement anti-claustrophobia features to ensure travelers remained calm during their journey through it.
Soon, the Lærdal Tunnel will be eclipsed by Norway’s next venture – a 16.5 mile-long underwater megatunnel, with an estimated cost exceeding £1.6 billion (or over $1.9 billion). This is a significant increase from the $100 million spent on the Lærdal Tunnel.
This new tunnel, named Rogfast, will not only be the longest globally but also the deepest, reaching a maximum depth of 1,300 feet, according to The Independent.
The Rogfast project intends to link the districts of Randaberg and Bokn. Presently, Norway heavily depends on its E39 coastal highway, which extends from Trondheim in the north to Kristiansand in the south.
The current travel time between these two cities is a staggering 21 hours, but the Rogfast tunnel aims to reduce this duration by 11 hours.
It’s anticipated that traversing the new tunnel will take approximately 35 minutes from one end to the other, with a reported toll fee of £30 for drivers.
Currently, the route is punctuated by seven ferry crossings, which are prone to delays caused by adverse weather conditions.
Discussing Norway’s plans, Rogfast project manager Oddvar Kaarmo stated: “The port at Mortavika is quite exposed, and in the winter, ferries sometimes have to divert to another port. 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 Rogfast initiative is part of a massive £36 billion overhaul of the entire E39 road. Nearly half of the funding will be sourced from taxpayer contributions, while the remainder will be financed through toll fees once the record-breaking tunnel becomes operational.
Construction of the tunnel commenced in 2018, but progress was significantly hindered by the pandemic. The project is now projected to be completed by 2033, as reported by The Telegraph, nearly a decade later than initially anticipated.