Festning Tunnel

The Festning Tunnel (Norwegian: Festningstunnelen) is a motorway tunnel on European Route E18 in the city center of Oslo, Norway. The tunnel has two tubes, with three lanes in each. It runs from Bjørvika, under Akershus Fortress, The City Hall Square and Vika to Filipstad. The tunnel is 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) and −45 m (−148 ft) elevation at the deepest.[1]

Festning Tunnel
Overview
LineEuropean Route E18
LocationOslo, Norway
Coordinates59.91°N 10.73°E / 59.91; 10.73
StartBjørvika
EndFilipstad
Operation
Opened1990
OwnerNorwegian Public Roads Administration
Technical
Length1,800 m (5,900 ft)
No. of lanes6
Lowest elevation−45 m (−148 ft)

The tunnel was previously also known as the Mountain Line (Fjellinjen) and the Oslo Tunnel (Oslotunnelen). The name Fjellinjen was since taken over by the company responsible for charging toll fees on the urban toll ring in Oslo. The tunnel changed its official name from the Oslo Tunnel to the Festning Tunnel in 1998 to avoid confusion with the railway tunnel with the same name. In 2008 and 2009, the electrical installation in the tunnel is being upgraded, financed through toll fees, costing 240 million kr.[1]

Map of the tunnel

In the west, the tunnel connects to Dronning Mauds gate with a cloverleaf intersection, and also has the intersection prepared for a future Slottspark Tunnel. In the east, it connects to Nylandsveien and Ring 1 at Bjørvika. In 2012, the Bjørvika Tunnel will be constructed below Bjørvika, and the new tunnel will connect directly with the Festning Tunnel.[2]

The tunnel was built to remove traffic from The City Hall Square, the square in front of the Oslo City Hall, and allow better access to the waterfront from the city. After the tunnel opened in January 1990, cars remained on The City Hall Square until 1994. In 1995, the Vika Line of the Oslo Tramway was built across the square.[3]

References
  1. Norwegian Public Roads Administration. "E18 Festningstunnelen Fakta" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  2. Norwegian Public Roads Administration. "E18 Bjørvikaprosjektet Bakgrunn" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  3. Røde, Gro (1998). "Rådhusplassen" (in Norwegian). Oslo City Archive. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
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