Sandoyartunnilin
Aerial photo of the new Gamlarætt ferry port, where the Streymoy entrance of the Sandoyartunnilin is also located (near the jetty).
Overview
LocationSandoy and Streymoy, Faroe Islands
StatusOpen
Operation
Work begun2019
Opened21 December 2023
OwnerFaroese government
OperatorP/F Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar
TrafficAutomotive
TollYes
Vehicles per dayestimated 300–400[1]
Technical
Length10,785 m (35,384 ft)
No. of lanes2
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Highest elevation50.7 m (166 ft)
Width10.5 m (34 ft)[2]
Depth of tunnel below water level155.1 m (509 ft)
Grade5.0% (max.)

Sandoyartunnilin (Sandoy Tunnel) is an undersea road tunnel in the Faroe Islands. It connects the main island of Streymoy with Sandoy to the south. The length of the tunnel is 10.8 kilometres (6.7 mi) and the estimated cost is 860 million DKK.[3] The tunnel opened for traffic on 21 December 2023, after which the ferry Teistin ceased its route between Gamlarætt on Streymoy and Skopun on Sandoy.[4] The tunnel crosses the Skopunarfjørður and runs from Gamlarætt to Traðardalur in central Sandoy, near the Inni í Dal stadium.[5]

On 3 February 2022, the two sides of the tunnel were connected during a ceremony.[6] Construction began on 27 June 2019 and the halfway mark was hit in September 2020.[7]

In political, legal and financial terms, the project is linked to the Eysturoyartunnilin, which was opened for traffic on 19 December 2020.[8] The Eysturoyartunnilin, at more than tenfold the traffic numbers than those projected for the Sandoyartunnilin, will partially finance the latter via cross subsidisation once the investment of the former has been returned. Toll levels of Sandoyartunnilin are pegged to those of the Eysturoyartunnilin.[9] It is projected that 300–400 vehicles per day will use the tunnel to Sandoy.[1] In comparison, the average daily ridership of the ferry route was 195 vehicles (with drivers) and 613 passengers (excluding drivers) in 2021.[10] The ridership of the Sandoyartunnilin would be further increased if it can act as a stepping stone for the Suðuroyartunnilin, or new ferry route, to Suðuroy.

A new residential and industrial area is being built with tunnel debris at Velbastaður.[11] Other debris has been used in Runavík and Strendur for a new coastal road.

Bus route 650 uses the tunnel on its daily service from Sandur to Tórshavn. On Sandoy, it connects with services to Skálavík, Húsavík, Dalur and Skopun, and in Tórshavn with various Bussleiðin and national routes. It also connects with the ferry service to Hestur in Gamlarætt and Skúgvoy in Sandur.

The Farose Útoyggjafelagið ('Outpost Island Society') lobbied for a branch to the island of Hestur, but this was deprioritised due to costs. Ferry port Gamlarætt will therefore remain a ferry port for Hestur after the Sandoy route terminates.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sandoyartunnilin". estunlar.fo (in Faroese). Tunnil. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Framgongd við boring". estunlar.fo (in Faroese). Tunnil. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Kaj Joensen; Christian Loiborg (14 April 2014). "Færøerne får undersøiske tunneler for to milliarder kroner" (in Danish). Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Sandoy tunnel". Eysturoyar- og Sandoyartunlar. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Samuelsen, Ingi (23 February 2016). "Fylla út á Saltnesi fyri ferðsluni frá Eysturoyartunnlinum" (in Faroese). Portal.fo. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hol ígjøgnum og cognac undir Skopunarfirði". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Dagur. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Helvtin borað". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Dagur. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Djurhuus, Høgni (26 November 2020). "Tórshavn-Eysturoy tunnel to open before Christmas". kvf.fo (in Faroese). Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Mikkelsen, Kári (30 August 2018). "Ætla at lata tunnilin upp fyri ferðslu hálvan desember". kvf.fo (in Faroese). Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Hagtøl". ssl.fo (in Faroese). Strandfaraskip Landsins. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Djurhuus, Høgni (17 December 2021). "New district planned near Velbastaður". kvf.fo (in Faroese). Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hestur Skal Knytast Uppi Sandoyartunnilin". umsit.portal.fo (in Faroese). Portal. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

61°55′N 6°49′W / 61.92°N 6.82°W / 61.92; -6.82


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