Oslofjord Tunnel: Difference between revisions

[[Image:TRS 070405 016.jpg|thumb|right|Tunnel west entrance in Hurum (west)]]

'''Oslofjord Tunnel''' ({{Lang-no|Oslofjordtunnelen}}) is a subsea road [[tunnel]] under the [[Oslofjord]], [[Norway]], connecting [[Hurum]], [[Buskerud]] in the west to [[Frogn]], [[Akershus]] in the east. The Oslofjord Tunnel is one of the longest [[undersea tunnel]]s of its kind in Northern Europe; it is 7.2 km long and reaches a depth of 134 metres below [[sea level]], with a maximum gradient of 7%. The tunnel was opened by [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]] on June 29, 2000, providing an alternative method of transport between the east and west side of the Oslofjord, replacing the former [[Drøbak–Storsand Ferry]] operated by [[Ferjeselskapet Drøbak–Hurum–Svelvik]].

The tunnel has one lane in each direction with an extra lane in the inclining direction on the slopes. The speed limit of 80&nbsp;km/h is enforced by [[road rule enforcement camera]]s. The tunnel is partially [[toll road|toll financed]] with a [[toll plaza]] on the east of the tunnel.<ref>[http://www.sintef.no/upload/Teknologi_og_samfunn/Sikkerhet%20og%20pålitelighet/Rapporter/STF38%20A04407.pdf ''Security in the Oslo Fjord Tunnel'' (SINTEF Teknologiledelse. 9 February 2004)] </ref>

The first suggestions for construction of a tunnel came with the suggestion of building a new main [[airport]] for [[Eastern Norway]] at [[Hurumlandet]]. Although [[Gardermoen]] was chosen instead as the location for the new airport, the plans for the tunnel were allowed to continue, and on December 13, 1996 the [[Storting|Norwegian Legislature]] authorized the project. Construction began on April 14, 1997. There have been some closings of the tunnel due to unstable geological activities.