ABSTRACT
In the south west of Norway just north of the city Stavanger a large tunnel project is under construction. E39 Rogfast is the first project to be constructed in the larger ambition to get a ferry-free highway along the European route E39 from Trondheim to Kristiansand. E39 Rogfast will become the worlds longest and deepest sub-sea road tunnel with a length of 26,7 km and its deepest point at approximately 392 m below sea level. It will be built as a two-tube tunnel. Around midway through there is a separate tunnel to the island Kvitsøy, connected by a two-level interchange at a depth of around 260 m. The project will reduce travel time between Stavanger and Bergen by 40 minutes. Long road tunnels cause several problems related to the risk of accidents. Tunnels demands a higher concentration from the driver compared to normal roads. The monotony in long tunnels increase the risks of inattention and the driver falling asleep. It is also difficult to assess the speed when driving in tunnels. At Rogfast several solutions were implemented to reduce problems related to long road tunnels. Among them are the use of state of the art lighting and specially designed caverns to capture the driver’s attention. The caverns are designed with changing cross-sections and a custom-made lining of concrete elements. These areas with special lighting are spaced with a maximum distance of 6,5 km.
