Bolungarvíkurgöng (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpɔːluŋkarˌviːkʏrˌkœyŋk] , regionally also [ˈpɔːlʏŋkarˌviːkʏrˌkœŋk]) is a tunnel in northwestern Iceland, located in Westfjords along Route 61. It has a length of 5,426 m (17,802 ft) and opened on 25 September 2010.[1]
 Southeast entrance | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Westfjords, Iceland |
| Route | 61 |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 2008 |
| Opened | 2010 |
| Operator | Vegagerðin |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Vehicles per day | 800 |
| Technical | |
| Length | 5.426 km (3.372 mi) |
| No. of lanes | 2 |
| Grade | 2% |
 | |
One of the main objectives of building the tunnel was to replace one of Iceland's most dangerous roads, which connected two of the largest towns in the area, Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík, and thereby improve road safety. The old road lies along the seashore under the steep and unstable mountain hills of Óshlíð, and was subject to frequent avalanches and rockfalls. Other objectives include improved road connections and reduced travel times, such that the distance between Ísafjordur and Bolungarvík would be similar to that between districts in a city.[2]
Bolungarvik Tunnel details:[3]
- Tunnel length: 5.426 km
- Cross section of the tunnel: 54 m²
- Maximum width of the tunnel: 8.7 m
- Two-lane highway
- Number of emergency lay-bys: 10
As part of the construction project, an additional 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) of road was built, including a pair of bridges crossing the Ósá and Langá rivers.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Bolungarvíkurgöng opnuð". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "Bolungarvík road tunnel, Iceland". EFLA-engineers.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ Mannvit, engineering firm -"Bolungarvik Road Tunnel". Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
66°07′50″N 23°10′02″W / 66.13056°N 23.16722°W
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