€534 million Norwegian tunnel deal

A €534.34 million contract to build the E02 Kvitsøy road tunnel has been awarded in Norway. The project is for a tunnel measuring around 8.8km to connect the island of Kvitsøy to the Norwegian mainland.

The construction work will be carried out by a joint venture team comprising Implenia and Stangeland. The package of works for the project was awarded by the Norwegian Road Administration.

The project involves building a two lane tunnel that features two ventilation shafts, 154 emergency areas and 38 cross passages. The work also includes building 1.6km of access roads as well as facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Around 2 million m3 of rock will be removed for the project. Much of this material will be reused to build sea embankments.

The new tunnel will replace the ferry service that currently provides access to the island. The project forms part of Norway’s plan to link remote communities directly with bridges or tunnels, replacing ferry services. With a population of around 550, the island covers 6.3km2 and will benefit from faster access to the Norwegian mainland.