List of tunnels in the Faroe Islands
The list of tunnels in the Faroe Islands names the tunnels chronologically according to the year they were opened. A total of 17 road tunnels are in operation.
While the first tunnels were single-lane, unventilated and unlit mountain tunnels, ambitious, ultra-modern submarine tunnels are being built today. The aim of this more than 40 years of constant activity is not only to connect the metropolitan areas with one another, but also to protect small villages from depopulation . In the latter case, there are still mostly unlit single-lane tunnels with alternative bays.
The approximately 51,400 Faroese live in isolation in the North Atlantic . The road network of the islands comprises around 500 kilometers of country roads on 1,400 square kilometers. In 2003 around 24,000 motor vehicles were registered, including 17,000 cars in roughly the same number of private households. A biltúrur (car tour ) is a popular pastime for many islanders.
Regional development from the 1960s to the present day
Suðuroy
It all started in 1963 with the tunnel on the southern island of Suðuroy for the road from the main town of Tvøroyri to Hvalba in the north. This road was completed in 1969 with a second tunnel to Sandvík , while coastal roads and mountain passes led to the south of the island. That changed in 1997 when the tunnel to Sumba , the southernmost town in the country, was opened. There were considerable delays due to water penetrating the porous rock. Norwegian experts had to be brought in. The tunnel was only finished after ten years.
On January 23, 2006, the first blast was triggered for the fourth tunnel on the South Island, which shortens the travel time between the two cities of Tvøroyri and Vágur via Øravík and Hov and provides more safety. The tunnel was put into operation on October 20, 2007. It is illuminated and is the first Faroese tunnel to offer radio reception everywhere.
North islands
On the six extremely mountainous northern islands , the first tunnel was inaugurated in 1965, which is part of the road from Klaksvík on Borðoy to Viðareiði on Viðoy . The first section leads to Árnafjørður , where the road only briefly comes into daylight. There it leads in another tunnel, which made the way to Hvannasund possible in 1967 and which was completed by a road embankment between the two islands.
In order to save the less inhabited islands of Kalsoy and Kunoy from the threat of depopulation, all places were connected to one another in the 1980s. While there is a road embankment to Borðoy from Kunoy (where only Haraldssund and Kunoy village had to be connected by a tunnel), Kalsoy is still connected to Klaksvík by a ferry. Since then, five tunnels have given the elongated island the nickname recorder . They connect Húsar , Mikladalur and Trøllanes .
On April 29, 2006 (three months earlier than originally assumed) the Norðoyatunnilin was opened, which is the second longest and second submarine Faroese tunnel with over six kilometers. The ferry to Leirvík was thus superfluous.
Eysturoy
In 1976 the first two-lane tunnel in the Faroe Islands was built. It is part of road 10 from Tórshavn to the north of Streymoy , over the bridge on Sundini to the east island of Eysturoy and on to the urban center on Skálafjørður . The tunnel itself starts right behind the bridge at Norðskáli . The tunnel has now been modernized and now has light and radio reception.
In 1985 the tunnel from Gøta to Leirvík followed , which shortens the previous coastal road to this important ferry port.
The Norðoyatunnilin has been connecting Leirvík with the fishing metropolis of Klaksvík since 2006 .
On December 19, 2020, the eleven kilometer long submarine Eysturoyartunnilin went into operation. The tunnel entrances are in Hvítanes on Streymoy and on both sides of Skálafjørður in Strendur and Saltnes / Runavík on Eysturoy. The two largest urban centers - Tórshavn and Skálafjørður - are only a few kilometers away by car.
Streymoy
In 1977 the first tunnel was inaugurated on the main island of Streymoy . This tunnel ( Leynatunnilin ) bypasses the narrow embankment road on Leynavatn and thus simplified the journey from Kollafjørður to Leynar . This also made the connection from Tórshavn to Vestmanna more convenient.
Until 1992, however, the route from the capital to the north continued via main road 10, the so-called Oyggjarvegur ("Inselweg"). This forms a mountain road between Tórshavn and Kollafjørður, which is often shrouded in fog and therefore dangerous. Since a tunnel from Kaldbaksbotnur to Signabøur at the foot of Sornfelli was drilled through the mountain and opened to traffic in 1992 when Kollfjarðartunnilin , this problem no longer exists. Travel from Tórshavn to the north now flows via Hvítanes along the east coast.
A permanent road connection from Streymoy to Vágar was to begin as early as 1989 . Financial difficulties did not make the Vágatunnilin a reality until 2002. For Faroese standards, it is a tunnel of superlatives: the first tunnel under the sea between two islands, at the same time the longest and most expensive tunnel and the first tunnel to be refinanced by toll . However, the toll is no higher than the previous ferry price. The journey to Vágar Airport is shortened by an hour. At the same time, Vágar has enjoyed increased visitor numbers since then.
In 2005 a feasibility study was submitted for the Sandoyartunnilin , which will connect Streymoy to the southern region of Sandoy in the future . This would become the longest road tunnel under the sea.
Vágar
During the British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II , Vágar Airport was built, as well as a road that connects all the major towns and leads to Oyrargjógv in the east, where the ferry to Streymoy. With the Vágatunnilin from 2002, this ferry belongs to history.
However, one village was not connected: Gásadalur in the far west of the island. According to a Danish documentary film, this isolated place was 1,700 meters from the future . In the meantime the place has been supplied by helicopter. He might have been abandoned entirely. It was only about twelve residents, but the Faroese state made it possible for these compatriots to connect to the outside world with the Gásadalstunnilin , which was completed in 2004. Until December 21, 2006, it could only be opened with a key, which was essentially reserved for the villagers. The official release for traffic took place on December 21, 2006.
This means that all parts of the Faroe Islands are connected by roads.
Sandoy
As early as 1916, the first country road was built on the relatively flat sand island of Sandoy . It connects Skopun in the north with the capital Sandur in the south. All other roads to the towns of Sandoy did not require a tunnel. A steady decline in population in this smallest region of the Faroe Islands has been observed there for a long time. The long-debated Sandoyartunnilin , which is expected to be completed in 2023, could possibly stop the population decline. The fixed link to the capital region would allow commuters to work in Tórshavn and live on Sandoy.
Planning
While the latter, about twelve kilometers long Sandoyartunnilin, is expected to be completed in 2023, there are plans to continue the connection to the island of Suðuroy, about 30 kilometers from Sandoy. If these are implemented (possibly around 2030), there will be a direct drive by car from the northernmost town Viðareiði to the southernmost town Sumba - through at least twelve tunnels in a straight line of about 120 kilometers.
Eight of the 17 inhabited islands in the Faroe Islands may have to wait longer or never get a submarine tunnel connection:
- Mykines in the northwest
- Fugloy and Svínoy in the northeast
- Nólsoy before Tórshavn
- Hestur and Koltur on the southwest coast of Streymoy
- Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun in the south
List of tunnels
This list shows 20 existing and three planned or under construction tunnels in chronological order, starting with the oldest tunnel:
Note on technical equipment
= tunnel under construction
= two-lane tunnel / = single-lane with passing points
L / L | T / T | R / R = lighting, telephone, radio reception available / not available
= level crossing in the tunnel / = roundabout in the tunnel
= undersea
= chargeable
construction time | Faroe. Surname | length | Width / height |
Overlap / max. Slope |
Sea level portals |
technology | Island | comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1961-1963 | Hvalbiartunnilin | 1450 m | 3.2 m 3.3 m |
? m 5.6% |
150.0 m [N] 227.0 m [S] |
| |
Suðuroy | 1. The Faroe Islands Hvalba - Tvøroyri Tunnel |
1964-1965 | Árnafjarðartunnilin | 1680 m | 2.8 m 3.1 m |
380 m 0.5% |
75.0 m [W] 83.5 m [E] |
| |
Borðoy | Klaksvík - Árnafjørður |
1966-1967 | Hvannasundstunnilin | 2120 m | 2.8 m 3.1 m |
485 m 0.5% |
94.5 m [N] 84.0 m [S] |
| |
Borðoy | direct continuation of Árnafjarðartunnilin– Hvannasund |
1967-1969 | Sandvíkartunnilin | 1500 m | 3.3 m 3.2 m |
224 m 1.45% |
104.8 m [N] 73.6 m [S] |
| |
Suðuroy | Sandvík - Hvalba |
1973-1976 | Norðskálatunnilin | 2520 m | 7.0 m 4.5 m |
245 m 2.3% |
192.2 m [W] 134.7 m [E] |
| L | T | R. | Eysturoy | shortens the connection between Norðskáli and the communities on Skálafjørður |
1975-1977 | Leynatunnilin | 760 m | 7.0 m 4.5 m |
155 m 1.35% |
71.3 m [W] 81.4 m [E] |
| L | T | R. | Streymoy | triggers a narrow road on shore Leynavatn from |
1978-1979 | Villingadalstunnilin | 1193 m | 3.0 m 3.4 m |
128 m 8.1% |
118.6 m [N] 49.5 m [S] |
| |
Kalsoy | Húsar - Mikladalur ; 1. Tunnel of the "recorder" |
1979-1980 | Longitudinal tunnelin | 683 m | 3.0 m 3.8 m |
255 m 7.5% |
162.7 m [N] 116.5 m [S] |
| |
Kalsoy | Húsar – Mikladalur; 2. Tunnel of the "recorder" |
1980 | Mikladalstunnilin | 1082 m | 3.0 m 3.7 m |
240 m 2.8% |
173.1 m [N] 143.4 m [S] |
| |
Kalsoy | Húsar – Mikladalur; 3. Tunnel of the "recorder" |
1983-1985 | Trøllanestunnilin | 2248 m | 3.0 m 3.5 m |
365 m 1.6% |
185.0 m [N] 149.0 m [S] |
| |
Kalsoy | Mikladalur – Trøllanes; 4. Tunnel of the “recorder”; later construction of a side tunnel |
1985 | Teymur í Djúpadal | 220 m | 3.0 m 3.5 m |
? m 0.8% |
163.2 m [X] 161.4 m [O] |
| |
Kalsoy | Trøllanestunnilin – uninhabited Djúpidalur valley |
1983-1985 | Leirvíkartunnilin | 2238 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
442 m 1.5% |
53.4 m [W] 20.4 m [E] |
| L | |
Eysturoy | Gøta - Leirvík replaces a very narrow, dangerous coastal road |
1985-1988 | Kunoyartunnilin | 3031 m | 3.5 m 4.3 m |
700 m 1.4% |
54.9 m [W] 12.2 m [E] |
| |
Kunoy | With 700 m the largest overburden of all tunnels in the Faroe Islands Kunoy - Haraldssund ; Continuation to the road embankment to Borðoy |
1987-1992 | Kollfjardartunnilin | 2816 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
292 m 1.2% |
73.5 m [N] 48.6 m [S] |
| L | |
Streymoy | Kollafjørður –Tórshavn; replaces the mountain road from Tórshavn to the north |
1986-1997 | Sumbiartunnilin | 3240 m | 5.50 m 4.30 m |
300 m 1.4% |
54.8 m [N] 102.6 m [S] |
| |
Suðuroy | Lopra - sumba ; replaces 10 km mountain pass; southernmost tunnel in the Faroe Islands |
1988-2002 | Vágatunnilin | 4940 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
145 m 6.% |
11.1 m [W] 43.5 m [E] |
| L | T | R. |
Vágar - Streymoy | Sandavágur –Leynar; 1. Underwater tunnel and 1. Chargeable tunnel in the Faroe Islands; connects the airport island with the main islands; replaces ferry |
2003-2006 | Norðoyatunnilin | 6300 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
? m 5.9% |
10.0 m [W] 19.5 m [E] |
| L | T | R. |
Eysturoy – Borðoy | Leirvík – Klaksvík; connects the North Islands with the rest of the country; replaces ferry |
2000-2003 / 06 | Gásadalstunnilin | 1400 m | 3.5 m 4.6 m |
317 m 6.0% |
143.6 m [W] 140.7 m [E] |
| |
Vágar | Bøur - Gásadalur ; connects one of the most isolated spots in Europe with the outside world |
2005-2007 | Hovstunnilin | 2435 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
? m 1.2% |
28 m [N] 50 m [S] |
| L | T | R. | Suðuroy | Øravík - Hov ; replaced a nine-kilometer single-lane mountain pass path |
2014-2016 | Viðareiðistunnilin | 1939 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
520 m 3.5% |
80.2 m [N] 40.5 m [S] |
| L | T | R. | Viðoy | Viðareiði (Miðdalur) - Hvannasund ; northernmost tunnel in the Faroe Islands |
2016-2020 | Eysturoyartunnilin | 11,238 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
189 m 5% |
m [N] m [S] |
| L | T | R. |
Eysturoy-Streymoy | Hvítanes - Strendur / Runavík ; shortens the connection from Eysturoy and Klaksvík to the capital. Also connects the two sides of Skálafjørð . Formerly also called Skálafjarðartunnilin. |
2017– | Nýggjur Hvalbiartunnilin | 2050 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
| L | T | R. | Suðuroy | Tvøroyri-Hvalba; Re-routing of the obsolete tunnel from 1963. Start of construction in 2017 |
2019– | Sandoyartunnilin | 10,785 m | 7.0 m 4.6 m |
147 m 5% |
m [N] m [S] |
| L | T | R. |
Streymoy - Sandoy | Gamlarætt - Skopun Feasibility Study April 2005, replaces ferry. |
2020– | Dalstunnilin | 2200 m | 8 m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Sandoy | ||
2021– | Tunlar Norður around Fjall | 3040 m - 4200 m |
m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Borðoy | ||
planning | Gjáartunnilin | 1500 m - 2000 m |
m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Eysturoy | ||
planning | Tjørnuvíkartunnil | 1360 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Streymoy | ||
planning | Fuglafirditunnilin | 2400 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Eysturoy | ||
planning | Sandavágatunnilin | 2700 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Vágar | ||
planning | Miðvágatunnilin | 5100 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Vágar | ||
planning | Norðalstunnilin | 2200 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Streymoy | ||
planning | Syðradalstunnilin | 1600 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Streymoy | ||
planning | Tunnil around Sandarlíð | 380 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Sandoy | ||
planning | Suðuroyartunnilin | 22,500 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
| L | T | R. |
Sandoy – Suðuroy | |
planning | Nýggjur Sandvíkartunnlin | 2100 m | m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Suðuroy | ||
planning | Fámjinstunnilin | 780 m - 950 m |
m m |
m % |
m [N] m [S] |
Suðuroy |
Web links
- Tunnel data
- Tunnil.fo News about the Vágar Tunnel and the North Island Tunnel (Faroese)
- Landsverk.fo National Road Construction Company (Faroese)
- various tunnel projects (Faroese)
- Tunnels by place, finish year and dimensions. In: statbank.hagstova.fo. Statistics Faroe Islands (English, Faroese).
- Skálafjardartunnilin
- Animation Skálafjarðartunnilin
- Animation Eysturoyartunnilin (Faroese)
- Planning Suðuroyartunnil and others
- further tunnel planning 2012-2024
Individual evidence
- ↑ Felix Reek: At the jellyfish right - A new tunnel connects the two largest islands in the Faroe Islands. In the middle: a traffic roundabout. Deep under the ocean. Süddeutsche Zeitung , December 18, 2020, accessed on December 19, 2020 .
- ↑ Uppmátingargrundarlag til Eysturoyartunnilin , us.fo
- ↑ Eysturoyartunnilin & Sandoyartunnilin ( Memento of July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), landsverk.fo
- ↑ Alment loyvt at koyra til Gásadals (Officially allowed to drive to Gásadalur) . Portal.fo, December 19, 2006.
- ↑ Progress on the Sandoy Tunnel - More than 2.5 kilometers of tunnel completed. In: Faroese News. The German-Faroese Circle of Friends e. V., January 30, 2020, accessed December 19, 2020 .
- ↑ Faroe Islands: Inside the under-sea tunnel network
- ↑ Nýggj hvalbiarfarleið boðin út til prosjekteringar. In: landsverk.fo. Landsverk, June 7, 2016, accessed June 15, 2016 (Faroese).
- ↑ Sandoyartunnilin. In: estunlar.fo. Retrieved December 20, 2020 .
- ↑ Sandoyartunnilin - Fylg við gongdini at bora Sandoyartunnilin. In: estunlar.fo. December 14, 2020, accessed December 20, 2020 (Faroese).
- ↑ Lata fyrsta skotið av - Klokkan 11 verður fyrsta skotið til Dalstunnilin latið av. In: dagur.fo. November 5, 2020, accessed December 20, 2020 (Faroese).
- ↑ Loysa fyrsta flagið fyri tunlum. KVF (Kringvarp Føroya), February 7, 2021, accessed on February 16, 2021 .