Norway on track to build $46bn world's longest, deepest road tunnel

Norway is poised to construct the world's longest and deepest underwater road tunnel, named the Rogfast, with an astonishing budget of $46 billion.

This engineering feat, which is set open in 2033, stretches 16 miles and   reaches the depths of 1,300 feet underwater, aiming to transform the commute between Norway's southern and northern regions.

The tunnel will link the municipalities of Randaberg and Bokn in Rogaland county. Currently, residents and tourists rely on ferries to travel between the two regions, the Mirror reported.

While travelling on a ferry, it takes 21 hours to cover the 680-mile stretch between Kristiansand and Trondheim along the E39. However, the Rogfast tunnel will significantly reduce travel time, saving a staggering 11 hours by replacing ferry crossings.

Additionally, an estimated 6,000 vehicles are expected to utilise the tunnel daily.

Although it will set the record as the longest and deepest undersea passage, traversing The Rogfast will only take around 35 minutes, according to the Mirror.

Oddvar Kaarmo, the Rogfast project manager, cited additional motivation for the tunnel's construction, saying: "The port at Mortavika is quite exposed and in the winter, ferries sometimes have to divert to another port."

"Once the tunnel is finished, 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, so we have to get a lot of work done simultaneously. It's more about logistics than tunnelling."

At present, Norway's Lærdal tunnel holds the record for the longest underwater road in the world, measuring 15 miles. 

The tunnel, which was opened in 2000, connects the municipalities of Lærdal and Aurland in Vestland county, offering a vital ferry-free route between Oslo and Bergen.

The tunnel cost nearly £90million to complete and allows visitors to drive through it and enjoy views of the fjord in Flåm, and return via the Aurlandsfjellet plateau on the Snow Road between Aurlandsvangen and Lærdalsøyri.