- Location: 5745 Aurland, Norway
- Phone: +47 57 63 33 13
Perhaps, Norway can be called not only a country of fjords , but also a country of tunnels, since they are here in huge numbers. Due to the difficult mountainous terrain and severe climate, movement around the country, especially in the winter, is much more difficult. This problem was partially solved with the construction of tunnels under the fjords and in the mountain range, and one of the longest in the country is the Lerdal tunnel. Daily traffic in it is 1000 cars.
How did the mountain tunnel appear?
Back in 1992, the Norwegian government decided to build a 24.5 km long motorway in the rock. From 1995 to 2000 years. This construction lasted. The new tunnel was to connect two cities - Lerdal and Aurland. In addition, it has become part of the E16 route, which connects Bergen with Oslo .
What is remarkable about the Lerdal tunnel?
In the tunnel, every 6 km there are grottos, in which cars can turn. In addition, there are parking and rest areas for drivers and passengers. This is especially important for people suffering from claustrophobia. In addition to the grottoes, there are 15 additional turning points.
The Lerdal tunnel is equipped with emergency communication facilities located every 250 m. There are also numerous fire extinguishers, but the main difference between the Lerdal Tunnel and similar tunnels is the use of the newest air purification system with the use of forced ventilation. It allows you to remove air polluted by exhausts, making it clean.
The builders did not have to just dig a tunnel in the mountain, because it had to meet modern security requirements. To make it easier for drivers to navigate in the tunnel space, a special lighting system was applied. The road itself is illuminated by white light, and the rest and turn areas are painted blue-red, imitating the sunset. 20 minutes of driving along the tunnel will fly unnoticed, and this trip reminds a small excursion - not every day is given the opportunity to visit inside the mountain.
How to get to the famous tunnel?
The fastest way to reach the sights is by going from Bergen along the E16 highway. This will take 2 hours 45 minutes. on the car. If you go from the side of Oslo (and the tunnel is part of the motorway connecting these cities), you can get to it in 4 hours 10 minutes. through the highway Rv7 and Rv52 or driving along the road Rv52. In the latter case, it will take a little more time - 4h. 42 min.