An underwater tunnel 26.7 km long, capable of saving motorists 10 hours’ travel time? It’s a crazy and costly gamble that a European country set itself almost ten years ago. And it has nothing to do with Elon Musk’s Boring Company!
There are long, flat countries with one straight stretch after another, where driving is easy but boring. And then there are those that are fragmented into islands, where getting around by car is more of an obstacle course than a leisurely stroll. One such country is Norway, in the north of Europe, with its many fjords.
As a result, crossing the country is an adventure that can take an eternity. For some journeys, you have to use ferries, an efficient but slow means of transport. So the Norwegians have decided to tackle the problem head on.
21 hours of travel summed up in 10 hours
In 2018, the country embarked on a project that is unique in terms of its size, cost and ambitions. This is the Rogfast project, for Rogaland fastforbindelse, or “Rogaland fixed link”. It involves the construction of a 26.7-kilometre-long undersea tunnel, 390 metres under the sea, capable of linking the districts of Randaberg and Bokn in around 40 minutes. Two roundabouts will also be integrated into the tunnel, some 260 metres below sea level.
The map gives an idea of the tunnel route. Today, the only alternative is to take a ferry to make the crossing, which takes considerably longer. And to get a better idea of how much time Rogfast will save, it’s worth bearing in mind that today, crossing Norway from north to south takes approximately 21 hours, with 7 ferry journeys. With the tunnel, this time will be reduced to around ten hours, without ever having to leave the road.
A mammoth project costing over €2 billion
The total cost of the project is estimated at 25 billion Norwegian kroner, or around €2.2 billion. That’s a lot of money, but the Norwegian government sees it as a much cheaper alternative to building a bridge. What’s more, the country believes that this installation will also have numerous benefits for the economy of the various regions, whether in terms of production – of seafood, in particular – or tourism.
Work is scheduled for completion in 2033, and road traffic projections suggest that 13,000 vehicles could use the tunnel by 2053. Last but not least, Rogfast will become the longest underwater tunnel in the world, ahead of the Laerdal tunnel, which is 24 km long and located… in Norway!
