At 15.4 miles, the Lærdal tunnel in Norway is the world’s longest road tunnel that links Aurland and Lærdal, in the heart of Sogn, and provides a ferry-free connection between Oslo and Bergen.
The Lærdal Tunnel was built to provide a reliable, year-round road connection between the cities of Oslo and Bergen, avoiding the mountain passes that are often closed in winter.
The construction of the Lærdal Tunnel (Lærdalstunnelen in Norwegian) took five years and was completed in 2000, surpassing Switzerland’s St. Gotthard Tunnel by five miles to become the longest road tunnel in the world.
The project cost 1,050 million NOK (£98 million), meaning each meter of the tunnel costs 38,000 NOK (£3500). The tunnel is toll-free for everyone.
The tunnel has 15 turning points and 48 breakdown lay-bys, and it is divided into four sections.
Every six kilometres (3.7 miles), there are widened rock chambers with special lighting. These create the feeling of driving into daylight or a twilight glow.
The new tunnel shortened the popular cycling route from Fyllingsdalen, a Bergen suburb, to central Bergen by about 5.5 kilometres, saving cyclists around 20 minutes.
It also makes the ride much more manageable during the icy and snowy winter months.
The tunnel has significantly improved transportation and logistics in the region, boosting local economies.
It is also a point of interest for tourists, due to its record length and the engineering marvel it represents.
The Lærdal Tunnel stands as a testament to modern engineering, enhancing connectivity and ensuring safe travel through one of Norway’s most challenging landscapes.
About 1,000 vehicles drive through every day, and when the traffic is at its heaviest, there can be 400 vehicles in the tunnel in an hour.
Travellers have been left mesmerised by the “scenic” beauty of the longest tunnel in the world.
One user wrote on the TripAdvisor forum: “Epic tunnel with 24,5km in length and a parking spot in the middle where you can stop, get out of the car and take pictures! In the Swiss Gotthard tunnel doing such a thing would be strictly forbidden.”
A second visitor commented: “When I think of tunnels I think dimly lit, eerie, and boring death traps waiting to happen.
“But for its couple of light installations and ability to now say I’ve been through the longest road tunnel in the world this tunnel has surpassed expectations. Bonus that it got me (safely) to the phenomenal Aurlandfjord much faster than the ‘scenic’ road.”
A third user said: “Guess only road without any scenic beauty in the country! The longest tunnel was quite apprehensive, but it wasn’t made, with excellent lighting, and good signage, and we could complete the tunnel within 15 months. Ample shoulder space if you want to take a break. Must drive while in Norway.”