Norway’s Rogfast Tunnel is on track to become an exceptional engineering marvel. It is not only going to be the deepest undersea tunnel globally, descending 400m below the surface, but will also hold the record as the longest, spanning an impressive 27km (approximately 17 miles).
A significant advancement has recently emerged in the ambitious project’s development to ensure its progress.
Initially launched in January 2018 to connect Randaberg and Bokn villages, the project faced a halt in the following year due to escalating expenses. However, construction resumed in 2021 after revising plans, and a major development has now been announced to propel the project forward.
The extraordinary tunnel is part of a broader upgrade to the E39 road, a coastal route linking Trondheim and Kristiansand in Norway. Currently, traveling between these points takes 21 hours and involves multiple ferry crossings.
The ultimate objective is to replace all seven ferry routes with tunnels and bridges, reducing the journey time from 21 hours to 11 hours. Authorities aim to complete the entire venture by 2050.
The inaugural tunnel will trim 40 minutes off the trip between Stavanger and Bergen while enhancing transport reliability.
Recently, the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) greenlit a NOK 4 billion loan (around £307 million) to back the initiative, with Norwegian toll operator Ferde AS playing a role as an intermediary, as per reports from the Express.
Carlos Rodriguez, a senior official at NIB, stated, “Reliable infrastructure is crucial for regional progress and efficient transport connections. Rogfast will enhance connectivity in western Norway and support the long-term integration of labor and transport markets.”
The total cost is projected to reach NOK 25 billion (approximately £1.8 billion), with an estimated 4,000 vehicles anticipated to pass through daily.
The Rogfast Tunnel, also known as the Boknafjord Tunnel, will include a double roundabout deep beneath the sea, linking to the island of Kvitsøy – where travelers will descend further underground than the height of the Empire State Building.
Skanska, the construction giant overseeing the tunnel’s northern segment, has openly discussed the challenges of drilling so deep under the ocean.
Anne Brit Moen, the project manager, mentioned to Engineers Ireland, “Given our descent to 392m below sea level, our focus is on determining the best methods to ensure safe and efficient working conditions for all. The tunnel will significantly enhance connectivity along the Norwegian west coast.”
<p class="Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh
