norwegian road tunnel connects island mainland norway tunnel kilometers long reaches mean sea level carries lanes european road triangle link fixed link connects plans tunnel arose 1980s construction started tunnel opened december tunnel built drilling blasting method teams building end tunnel runs area composed tunnel longest tunnel norway second deepest world deepest point road network tunnel toll road opening april tunnel average vehicles day planning background triangle link desire fixed link islands documented proposals 1960s involved building bridge following opening tunnel norway engineer finn proposed fixed link islands crossed suspension bridge continued causeway low bridge onwards kilometer long tunnel low bridge addition kilometer long tunnel built company launched tunnel proposal estimated cost million norwegian nok resulted kilometers tunnel connecting mainland inter municipal committee positive proposals director stated project unrealistic limited company founded october municipal authorities banks december recommended bridge report published considered detailed plans tunnel mainland followed seismic surveys changed majority board shifted favor fixed link stated allow bridge interfere ship traffic june board decided work getting permission collect advanced tolls ferry services september unanimously supported triangular proposal estimated cost nok million criticized stated longer time plan complete triangle link environmental groups started opposing triangle link active local chapter conservation nature stated road negative impact local boat traffic recreational islands recommended municipalities select bridge opponent project wanted delay decision municipal elections ensure municipal councils backing public local citizen opposed project stating risk large uncertain long tolls argued tolls years instead wanted use advanced tolls fuel fees place income bank pay fixed link saved funds opposition project near consensus favor project exception southern concerns ferry service mainland terminated result considerably longer driving time concerns raised people fear tunnels proposals ferry service people triangle link passed municipal councils february march supported bridge stated half years work master plan wasted new master plan triangle link published early recommended ferry connected southern remain ferry services terminated late advance tolls ferries approved municipal councils county council recommended collection start july start date supported national government issue placed hold july master plan passed december parliament approved advanced payment tolls ferry effective january ticket prices increased nok resulted protests ferry employees stated collect tolls remove jobs representatives stated considered state work development plan started included safety environmental improvements increased project cost nok million subject statements report published recommended removed following dispute impact bridge landing proposed building compromise avoid new plan postponed project years june parliament decided votes build link original proposed tunnel portal changed construction geological sampling undertaken included core samples reflection late core samples showed tunnel located meters originally planned avoid deposits tunnel construction awarded companies contract starting worked worked drilling blasting method awarded contract bidding nok million job construction started september march cubic meters extracted transported build bridge build roads golf course area average tunnel built speed meters week record meters people worked team lowest point reached breakthrough took place september months schedule construction involved injection tonnes long tons short tons cubic meters tunnel cost nok million ended costing nok million opened bridge december hours opening tunnel wedding toll company held course people fear tunnels master fears people participating official opening took place april opened longest second deepest tunnel europe norway specifications meters long crosses southeast tunnel begins runs passes island continues ending island tunnel meters wide lanes tunnel significant slope lanes runs runs downhill height meters deepest point meters mean sea level safety measures include fire emergency break meters turning points trucks meters lights barriers entrances drivers tunnel closed features radio coverage system register position key information vehicles tunnel emergency equipment connected central bergen tunnel mobile telephone coverage tunnel average vehicles day triangle link partially financed tolls toll collection taking place constructed grade separated intersection resulting car passes plaza cars driving drive straight ahead plaza cars need use interchange toll station uses toll collection allows passage stopping addition manual collection passengers pedestrians free fees nok cars nok trucks frequent travelers toll company receive percent estimated tunnel paid tolls removed tunnel runs area complex varied geology runs rock complexes created creation million years ago consists rock elements origin range granite area complexes lowest point tunnel runs section continues dominant species tunnel reaches island tunnel reaches section higher runs
Bømlafjord Tunnel