Norway Hopes To Be First Country To Build Submerged Floating Tunnel

[M II A II R II K]

To cross its fjords, Norway hopes to be first country to build submerged floating tunnel


February 8th, 2019

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens...nnel-1.5009576

The Norwegian government has launched an ambitious and complicated plan to build the world's first submerged, floating tunnel along the country's west coast. The bold design promises to cut travel time along Route E39 a highway connected by seven ferries with a current commute of 21 hours by as much as half.

- It was proposed for the first time in 1882, I think, [by naval architect] Sir Edward Reed. But the technology obviously wasn't ready. In Norway, the concept was proposed [for] the first time in 1923, or something like this. And the Norwegian Public Road Administration started, let's say, early, to develop some of these studies. — But it's just with the studies along the E39 that this structure has been proven to be really feasible. And this is thanks to the experience that Norway has with the offshore and oil structures.

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[Non-Euclidean]

Seems to me you would want it totally underwater with neutral buoyancy, or attached to the seafloor, not attached to floats on the surface.

[Steely Dan]

on the surface of it, this seems unnecessarily complicated.

if you're going the floating route anyway, why not just do floating bridges and eliminate the hassle of tunnels?

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

on the surface of it, this seems unnecessarily complicated.

if you're going the floating route anyway, why not just do floating bridges and eliminate the hassle of tunnels?

I'm assuming it's because it's not possible to build a floating bridge with high enough clearance to allow ships to pass under. This floating tunnel plan puts less restriction on surface traffic than a floating bridge would.

[M II A II R II K]

Perhaps these tunnels could be built through the Great Lakes for shortcuts, and being in the water won’t ruin the views of the lake.

[Busy Bee]

I don't know, it just seems like if a large ship struck one of those suspension buoys it would be a catasrophe.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I don't know, it just seems like if a large ship struck one of those suspension buoys it would be a catasrophe.

Yes, could be. If the large ships could struck there. That won't be any problem. I think they have to build a deep tunnels on bottom of the seas floor instead of floating.

[plutonicpanda]

I'm very impressed with Norway's efforts to expand its freeways, however, I'm not such a big fan of the floating tunnels concept.

[Baronvonellis]

Wow, Norway sure loves tunnels. Are tunnels normally watertight though? What happens if it springs a leak?

I drove though the Lærdal Tunnel, the world's longest car tunnels at 15.2 miles and it was pretty claustrophobic feeling to be in a tunnel for so long. Being in a tunnel underwater would freak me out!

I don't think a floating bridge would be practical as Norway gets some of the highest waves on Earth! There have been 82 feet waves measured off the coast of Norway! Pretty sure those waves would wipe out a floating bridge or at least flood the bridge and tip over the cars into the ocean.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

To cross its fjords, Norway hopes to be first country to build submerged floating tunnel

Its irrational but that thing kind of makes me nervous

[M II A II R II K]

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