Atlantic Ocean Tunnel

Historie

The Atlantic Ocean Tunnel is an undersea tunnel that is part of Norwegian County Road 64 which connects Kristiansund Municipality to Averøy Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The eastern end of the tunnel is on Kirkelandet island in the town of Kristiansund and the western end of the tunnel is on the island of Averøya, just west of the village of Sveggen. The 5727m long tunnel runs beneath the Bremsnesfjorden, reaching a depth of, making it one of the deepest undersea tunnels in the world. Construction began in 2006, and the tunnel opened on 19 December 2009, later than initially estimated. Breakthrough was in March 2009. Problems with water leaks caused delays and cost overruns.The name of the tunnel comes from its connection of two islands located at the open Atlantic Ocean, and serves as an extension of Atlanterhavsveien, a popular tourist attraction. Atlanterhavsveien road runs over a series of small islands with views of sea, fjord, and mountains, connecting Averøya to the mainland near the town of Molde.