The Rogfast, what will be world’s longest and deepest road tunnel, is currently under construction with a staggering US$46 billion price tag. Located in Norway, the tunnel will span 15 miles and will be placed 1,300 feet underwater. It will connect two key municipalities: Randaberg and Bokn in Rogaland County. Rogafast will ease the commute between the north-most and south-most regions of the country significantly. At the moment, the only way to travel between the separated municipalities is via ferry. Project officials promise that the tunnel will dramatically reduce travel times across Norway on the E39 coastal highway and cut journey times in half.
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Current Statistics
If you were to travel between Kristiansand and Trondheim along the E39, a 680-mile stretch, today, it would take you 21 hours total. The new tunnel not only takes off 30 miles from this distance, but also saves you 11 hours because you would not need to cross with any ferries. It has been estimated that 6,000 vehicles would use the tunnel daily, making traveling to major cities such as Stavanger and Bergen significantly more manageable. Bergen is home to the country’s fishing industry meanwhile Stavanger is a major North Sea oil center. Going through The Rogfast will only take around 35 minutes despite it setting the record as the longest and deepest undersea passage.
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Project Factsheet
Location: Between Randaberg and Bokn in Rogaland County, Norway
Scope of project: 15 miles, 1,300 feet underwater
Total Cost: US$46 billion
Completion date: 2031
Completion date
Construction is likely to take 7 years and be completed in 2031. According to official documents, 40% of the funding will come from government sources. The rest will be funded through tolling services, approximately $40 per trip. “The port at Mortavika is quite exposed. In the winter, ferries sometimes have to divert to another port. When the tunnel is completed, 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. We have to get a lot of work done simultaneously. It’s more about logistics than tunnelling,” said Oddvar Kaarmo, the Rogfast project manager.
Also in Norway, The Lærdal tunnel
Norway currently holds the record for the longest underwater tunnel in the world, the Lærdal tunnel. The tunnel spans 15 miles and connects Lærdal and Aurland in Vestland county. It provides a crucial ferry-free route between Oslo and Bergen. Opened in 2000, the project took nearly $120 million to complete.
The tunnel has a unique twist to it, as designers took into account the mental strain of traveling that long through a tunnel. As such, the tunnel has features such as caves which have blue lighting with yellow lights at the fringes to give an impression of sunrise. These caves are meant to break the monotony, providing a refreshing view and allowing drivers some relief. Additionally, they have break areas which help to alleviate claustrophobia during the 20-minute drive through the tunnel. There are signs throughout the tunnel indicating how many kilometers have already been covered and how many still to go.
