Sandoyartunnilin

Sandoyartunnilin (Sand Island Tunnel) is an undersea road tunnel under construction in the Faroe Islands. It will connect the main island of Streymoy with Sandoy to the south. The length of the tunnel will be 10.8 kilometres. The estimated cost is 860 million DKK.[5] The tunnel is expected to be ready for traffic in late 2023, after which the ferry Teistin will cease its route between Gamlarætt on Streymoy and Skopun on Sandoy.[6] The tunnel crosses the Skopunarfjørður and runs from Gamlarætt to Traðardalur in central Sandoy, near the Inni í Dal stadium.[7]

Sandoyartunnilin
Aerial photo of the new Gamlarætt ferry port, where also the Streymoy entrance of the Sandoyartunnilin is located (near the jetty).
Overview
LocationSandoy and Streymoy, Faroe Islands
StatusUnder construction
Operation
Work begun2019
Openedplanned December 2023[1][2]
OwnerFaroese government
OperatorP/F Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar
TrafficAutomotive
TollYes
Vehicles per dayestimated 300-400[3]
Technical
Length10,785 m (35,384 ft)
No. of lanes2
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Highest elevation50.7 m (166 ft)
Width10.5 m (34 ft)[4]
Depth of tunnel below water level155.1 m (509 ft)
Grade5.0% (max.)

On 3 February 2022 the two sides of the tunnel were connected during a ceremony.[8] Construction began on 27 June 2019 and the halfway mark was hit in September 2020.[9] The planned opening for traffic will be medio December 2023, with toll levels pegged to those of the Eysturoyartunnilin.[10]

In political, legal and economic terms, the project is linked to the Eysturoyartunnilin, which was opened for traffic on 19 December 2020.[11] The Eysturoyartunnilin, expected to be more lucrative than the Sandoyartunnilin, will partially finance the latter via cross subsidisation. It is projected that 300-400 vehicles per day will use the tunnel to Sandoy.[12] In comparison, the average daily ridership of the ferry route was 195 vehicles (with drivers) and 613 passengers (excluding drivers) in 2021.[13] The ridership of the Sandoyartunnilin would be further increased if it can act as a stepping stone for the Suðuroyartunnilin, or new ferry route, to Suðuroy.

A new residential and industrial area is being built with tunnel debris at Velbastaður.[14] Other debris is used in Runavík and Strendur for a new coastal road.

The Farose Útoyggjafelagið ('Outpost Island Society) lobbied for a branch to the island of Hestur, but this was deprioritised due to costs. Ferry port Gamlarætt will therefore remain a ferry port for Hestur after the Sandoy route terminates.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Sandoy tunnel breaks through". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). 3 February 2022.
  2. "Breakthrough in the spectacular project Eysturoy Tunnel on the Faroe Islands". 10 June 2019.
  3. "Sandoyartunnilin".
  4. "Framgongd við boring".
  5. Kaj Joensen; Christian Loiborg (14 April 2014). "Færøerne får undersøiske tunneler for to milliarder kroner" (in Danish). Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  6. "The Sandoy tunnel". Eysturoyar- og Sandoyartunlar. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. Samuelsen, Ingi (23 February 2016). "Fylla út á Saltnesi fyri ferðsluni frá Eysturoyartunnlinum" (in Faroese). Portal.fo. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. "Hol ígjøgnum og cognac undir Skopunarfirði".
  9. "Helvtin borað". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  10. "Ætla at lata tunnilin upp fyri ferðslu hálvan desember". Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  11. Djurhuus, Høgni (26 November 2020). "Tórshavn-Eysturoy tunnel to open before Christmas". kvf.fo. Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  12. "Sandoyartunnilin".
  13. "Hagtøl".
  14. "New district planned near Velbastaður". Kringvarp Føroya. 17 December 2021.
  15. http://umsit.portal.fo/hestur+skal+knytast+uppi+sandoyartunnilin.html

61.92°N 6.82°W / 61.92; -6.82


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