Norway’s Rogfast Tunnel is poised to become a groundbreaking engineering marvel. It is not only set to be the world’s deepest undersea tunnel, descending 400m below the surface, but it will also be the longest, spanning an impressive 27km (about 17 miles).
A significant milestone has recently emerged in the ambitious project to ensure its progress. Construction on the tunnel, connecting the villages of Randaberg and Bokn, began in January 2018 but was halted the following year due to escalating costs. Resuming in 2021 with revised plans, a major development has now been announced to propel the project forward.
This extraordinary tunnel is part of a larger upgrade to the E39 road, a coastal route linking Trondheim and Kristiansand in Norway. Currently, traveling between these locations takes 21 hours and involves multiple ferry crossings.
The ultimate objective is to replace all seven ferry crossings with tunnels and bridges, reducing the journey time to 11 hours. The authorities aim to complete the entire project by 2050.
The initial tunnel will cut 40 minutes off the journey between Stavanger and Bergen while enhancing transportation reliability.
The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) recently approved a NOK 4 billion loan (around £307 million) for the project, with Norwegian toll operator Ferde AS acting as an intermediary.
“Reliable infrastructure is crucial for regional growth and efficient transport connections. Rogfast will enhance connectivity in western Norway and facilitate long-term labor and transport market integration,” stated Carlos Rodriguez, a senior official at NIB.
The total cost is estimated to reach NOK 25 billion (approximately £1.8 billion), with an expected daily traffic volume of about 4,000 vehicles.
The Rogfast Tunnel, also known as the Boknafjord Tunnel, will include a double roundabout deep beneath the sea, connecting to the island of Kvitsøy – descending deeper underground than the height of the Empire State Building.
Skanska, the construction giant overseeing the northern segment of the tunnel, has acknowledged the challenges of drilling so far beneath the ocean.
Project manager Anne Brit Moen highlighted the focus on ensuring safe and efficient working conditions due to the tunnel’s depth, emphasizing its positive impact on connectivity along Norway’s west coast.
Norwegian Public Roads Administration project manager Oddvar Kaarmo emphasized the need for simultaneous progress to meet project deadlines, stressing the importance of efficient logistics.
An art installation will be installed inside the tunnel to alleviate monotony and tunnel anxiety, with hopes that this will contribute to reducing accidents during construction.