Authorities in Norway have given the final approval to start construction of the Stad Ship Tunnel, the first tunnel for ships in the world. The tunnel will be a mile long, cutting through the narrowest part of the Stad peninsula, and will let ships bypass the Stadhavet Sea, one of the most dangerous spots on the Norwegian coast with 100 storms a year.
The Norwegian Coastal Administration, which is in charge of the tunnel, says there are some other tunnels for smaller vessels in the world, but none for large ships. The Stad tunnel will be 83’ 6” wide and 121’ 3” high.
“We will now start the process of acquisitioning properties in the area where the ship tunnel will be located,” said Terje Andreassen, the temporary manager for the tunnel at the coastal administration.
The project will cost about $330 million. Construction will start next year and be completed in 2025 or 2026. The tunnel will be blasted through rock and will involve underground drilling rigs and pallet rigs.
The new tunnel will let ships bypass the Stadhavet Sea, where the North Sea and the Norwegian Seas meet in an often life-threatening mix of wind, current and waves. “The coastline outside that peninsula is the most stormy area in Norway, with the hurricanes,” Andreassen told CNN. “You get a lot of strange currents there.”
The coastal administration says the tunnel could serve as a tourist attraction, with a possible overhead bridge open to the public. The tunnel could also lead to a high-speed ferry service, strengthening industries in the area. Read more:
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/norway-ship-tunnel/index.html
