Published on 15th June 2021
The 1.7-kilometer Stad Ship Tunnel has been approved, and construction is expected to begin in 2022. The Ministry of Transport and Communications issued an assignment letter to the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) to begin planning for the project's development.
The Stad Ship Tunnel will connect the Kjdepollen harbor and Vanylvsfjorden, allowing cargo and passenger ships of up to 16,000 tonnes to avoid dangerous shipping routes around the Stad peninsula. It will have a pair of stone entrances designed by Snhetta.
It is believed to be the first tunnel for large ships built anywhere in the world. The project, which was first announced in 2017, has since acquired formal support from the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) as well as public money. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is now drafting a proposal for the legislature, which will be presented in the spring. Following parliamentary approval, plans are in place to choose a contractor by the end of the year, with construction starting in early 2022.
The Stad peninsular, which marks the border between the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea, is one of the most dangerous local locations for shipping and is one of the biggest obstacles to conducting a quick passenger service along the coast.
An entrance created by architecture firm Snhetta will be framed at each end of the Stad Ship Tunnel. To produce a design that would have a visual impact while still blending in with the peninsula's natural setting, the firm looked to the peninsula's characteristic stone walls. The tunnel's entry walls will be made of wire-cut and blasted stone, giving the design a rough appearance that contrasts with the precision of its horizontal lines.
An existing road will be redirected over the tunnel on a new bridge on its western side, providing a view of ships and boats approaching the tunnel. LED pipes that also serve as a navigational system will illuminate the tunnel's inside.
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