The Hvalfjörður Tunnel (Icelandic: Hvalfjarðargöng[ˈkʰvalˌfjarðarˌkœiŋk]) is a road tunnel under the Hvalfjörður fjord in Iceland and a part of Route 1. It is 5,770 meters (18,930 ft) long and reaches a depth of 165 meters (541 ft) below sea level. Opened on 11 July 1998, it shortens the distance from Reykjavík to the western and northern parts of the island by 45 kilometers (28 mi). Passing the fjord now takes 7 minutes instead of about an hour.
The tunnel was constructed by the company Spölur, while the Verkís company handled almost all of the design. Spölur was also the owner and operator of the tunnel until 2018, when ownership and administration of the tunnel were transferred as planned to the Icelandic Road Administration (Vegagerðin).[1] This project was a milestone in Icelandic construction as it was the first private finance initiative without direct funding by the state treasury.
The construction of the tunnel was started in 1996, and completed in 1998 at a cost of about ISK 5,000 million (USD 70 million). The tunnel was designed for annual average daily traffic of 5,000 vehicles.
While the sub-sea tunnel deepest point is 165 meters (541 ft) below sea level, the deepest sea depth is 40 meters (130 ft), and the minimum rock coverage is 40 meters (130 ft).
Tolls
The tunnel is toll free as of 28 September 2018, the date when the tunnel was turned over from the private operator Spölur to the Icelandic Road Administration (Vegagerðin).[1] Previously, the toll for vehicles less than 6 meters (20 ft) in length was ISK 1,000 (USD 9.80).[2] Motorcycles and larger vehicles paid different tolls. Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted. The money went to pay for the construction of the tunnel by Spölur.
The original plan assumed it would take 20 years (until 2018) to pay back the cost of building the tunnel, but the traffic volume has proved to be significantly higher than originally projected. The volume of traffic is so high that the operator of the tunnel has suggested building a new tunnel alongside the current one because traffic is reaching the threshold mandated by a European regulation (8,000 vehicles daily) over which traffic in opposing directions should be separated.[3]
Safety issues
The Hvalfjörður Tunnel received a bad rating in the 2010 European tunnel test, which is carried out annually by the German automobile club ADAC. Different aspects were criticized and are also mentioned in the EuroTAP test (see external links), especially the weak lighting, absence of an automatic fire alarm system, too weak ventilation in case of a fire and distance to the next fire station (28 kilometers or 17 miles). There are alcoves every 500 meters (1,600 ft) to facilitate turning around, and the storage capacity for water leakage is 2,000 cubic meters (71,000 cu ft).
Between 2007 and 2013, several improvements to the tunnel's security were made, according to the newspaper Morgunblaðið resulting in a doubling of the tunnel's security level.[4] The improvements included better lighting, setting up a monitoring system, new emergency lights and more fire extinguishers.[4]
^ ab"Vegagerðin tekur við Hvalfjarðargöngum" [The Road Administration takes over Hvalfjörður corridor] (in Icelandic). Vegagerðin. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
^. Spölur. July 2011. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
^"Stóraukin umferð um göngin" [Huge increase in traffic through the tunnel]. RÚV. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
^ ab"Hvalfjarðargöng tvöfalt öruggari" [Hvalfjörður tunnel twice as safe]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
External links
2010 test results of Hvalfjörður Tunnel by EuroTAP (European Tunnel Assessment Programme)
Hvalfjörður Tunnel Transportation and Planning by Verkís
hvalfjörður, tunnel, icelandic, hvalfjarðargöng, ˈkʰvalˌfjarðarˌkœiŋk, road, tunnel, under, hvalfjörður, fjord, iceland, part, route, meters, long, reaches, depth, meters, below, level, opened, july, 1998, shortens, distance, from, reykjavík, western, northern. The Hvalfjordur Tunnel Icelandic Hvalfjardargong ˈkʰvalˌfjardarˌkœiŋk is a road tunnel under the Hvalfjordur fjord in Iceland and a part of Route 1 It is 5 770 meters 18 930 ft long and reaches a depth of 165 meters 541 ft below sea level Opened on 11 July 1998 it shortens the distance from Reykjavik to the western and northern parts of the island by 45 kilometers 28 mi Passing the fjord now takes 7 minutes instead of about an hour Hvalfjordur TunnelSouth entranceOverviewLocationWestern Region and Capital Region IcelandRoute1OperationWork begun1996Opened1998OperatorSpolur until 2018 Icelandic Road Administration from 2018 TrafficAutomotiveVehicles per daySummer 8 900 Winter 5 100TechnicalLength5 770 m 18 930 ft No of lanes2 3Operating speed70km hHighest elevation15 m 49 ft Lowest elevation 165 m 541 ft Grade8 1 max The tunnel was constructed by the company Spolur while the Verkis company handled almost all of the design Spolur was also the owner and operator of the tunnel until 2018 when ownership and administration of the tunnel were transferred as planned to the Icelandic Road Administration Vegagerdin 1 This project was a milestone in Icelandic construction as it was the first private finance initiative without direct funding by the state treasury Contents 1 Construction 2 Tolls 3 Safety issues 4 Images 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksConstruction EditThe construction of the tunnel was started in 1996 and completed in 1998 at a cost of about ISK 5 000 million USD 70 million The tunnel was designed for annual average daily traffic of 5 000 vehicles While the sub sea tunnel deepest point is 165 meters 541 ft below sea level the deepest sea depth is 40 meters 130 ft and the minimum rock coverage is 40 meters 130 ft Tolls EditThe tunnel is toll free as of 28 September 2018 the date when the tunnel was turned over from the private operator Spolur to the Icelandic Road Administration Vegagerdin 1 Previously the toll for vehicles less than 6 meters 20 ft in length was ISK 1 000 USD 9 80 2 Motorcycles and larger vehicles paid different tolls Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted The money went to pay for the construction of the tunnel by Spolur The original plan assumed it would take 20 years until 2018 to pay back the cost of building the tunnel but the traffic volume has proved to be significantly higher than originally projected The volume of traffic is so high that the operator of the tunnel has suggested building a new tunnel alongside the current one because traffic is reaching the threshold mandated by a European regulation 8 000 vehicles daily over which traffic in opposing directions should be separated 3 Safety issues EditThe Hvalfjordur Tunnel received a bad rating in the 2010 European tunnel test which is carried out annually by the German automobile club ADAC Different aspects were criticized and are also mentioned in the EuroTAP test see external links especially the weak lighting absence of an automatic fire alarm system too weak ventilation in case of a fire and distance to the next fire station 28 kilometers or 17 miles There are alcoves every 500 meters 1 600 ft to facilitate turning around and the storage capacity for water leakage is 2 000 cubic meters 71 000 cu ft Between 2007 and 2013 several improvements to the tunnel s security were made according to the newspaper Morgunbladid resulting in a doubling of the tunnel s security level 4 The improvements included better lighting setting up a monitoring system new emergency lights and more fire extinguishers 4 Images Edit North entrance Middle of the tunnel 2007 Exit of the tunnel 2007 See also EditList of tunnels in IcelandReferences Edit a b Vegagerdin tekur vid Hvalfjardargongum The Road Administration takes over Hvalfjordur corridor in Icelandic Vegagerdin 2018 10 01 Retrieved 2021 12 13 Toll rates Spolur Hvalfjardargong Spolur July 2011 Archived from the original on 2018 06 12 Retrieved 2017 03 23 Storaukin umferd um gongin Huge increase in traffic through the tunnel RUV 2016 06 06 Retrieved 2016 06 06 a b Hvalfjardargong tvofalt oruggari Hvalfjordur tunnel twice as safe Morgunbladid in Icelandic 2015 01 02 Retrieved 2018 07 05 External links Edit2010 test results of Hvalfjordur Tunnel by EuroTAP European Tunnel Assessment Programme Hvalfjordur Tunnel Transportation and Planning by Verkis 64 18 35 N 21 54 14 W 64 30972 N 21 90389 W 64 30972 21 90389 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hvalfjordur Tunnel amp oldid 1136466017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
