Infrastructure

Norway could build the world's first floating tunnel

Norwegian farms are reflected in the still waters of a fjord in western Norway October 6, 2007.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has proposed a series of options to link up the west coast of the country - including floating tunnels. Image: REUTERS/Bob Strong

WIll Heilpern
Features Writer, Business Insider
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The floating underwater tunnel would consist of two 4,000-foot-long, curved concrete tubes, submerged 66 feet below the surface of the Norwegian Sea.
Image: NPRA
No floating underwater tunnel like this has ever been built before.
Image: NPRA
Image: Google Maps
Image: NPRA
The tunnels would enter the bedrock beneath the fjord on each side.
Image: NPRA
The submerged tubes would be steadied by being attached to pontoons on the surface of the sea.
Image: NPRA
There would be wide gaps between the pontoons to allow ferries to pass through.
Image: NPRA
Another option suggested by the NPRA is to combine an underwater tunnel with a bridge.
Image: NPRA
This solution is reminiscent of the Øresund which connects the Danish capital of Copenhagen to the Swedish capital of Malmö.
Image: NPRA
The NPRA is also considering creating a 12,139-foot-long suspension bridge, which would be three times the length of San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge and double the current world record for a bridge's length.
Image: NPRA
The towers on each end of this world record-breaking suspension bridge would stand at 1,476 feet tall — 492 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower.
Image: NPRA
Sognefjord.
Image: Shutterstock / S-F
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