1 Ryfylke Tunnel, Norway – 8.98 miles (14.46km)
At present holding the title of the world’s longest undersea highway tunnel, the Ryfylke Tunnel spans roughly 8.98 miles, linking Stavanger to the Ryfylke area in Norway. It was constructed to cut back dependence on ferry transportation and is now built-in into the broader Rogfast mission, which goals to attach a number of islands by way of underwater tunnels. As this mission progresses, Ryfylke might ultimately lose its standing because the longest.
Accomplished in 2019 after seven years of development, the tunnel is topic to toll charges to assist offset its growth prices.
2 Zigana Tunnel, Turkiye – 8.99 miles (14.48km)
Positioned close to Türkiye’s northern shoreline, the Zigana Tunnel cuts via difficult mountainous terrain to bypass the customarily snow-covered Zigana Move.
Building started in 2016 and was accomplished in 2023. At 8.99 miles lengthy, it stands as Türkiye’s longest highway tunnel. The tunnel shortens the route beforehand taken over the uncovered cross by 5 miles and reduces journey time by roughly 20 minutes through the summer time months.
3 Muzhailing Tunnel, China – 9.46 miles (15.22km)
Engineers encountered quite a few challenges whereas establishing the Muzhailing Tunnel in China’s Gansu Province. Located at excessive altitude and inside a seismically lively zone, the placement is especially susceptible to earthquakes.
Regardless of these troublesome circumstances, the tunnel was efficiently constructed utilizing NPR anchor cabling know-how. This methodology secures the construction to the encircling rock and permits it to endure floor motion and deformation brought on by seismic exercise—making it one of the resilient lengthy highway tunnels on the earth.
4 Tiantaishan Tunnel, China – 9.67 miles (15.56)
Accomplished at a value of two.75 billion Chinese language Yuan (round £300 million), the Tiantaishan Tunnel is taken into account comparatively economical by highway tunnel development requirements. Work started in 2016, and the tunnel was totally operational by 2021—a notably quick timeline for such a fancy mission.
Its speedy completion is much more outstanding given the tunnel’s high-altitude location and the tough, chilly local weather of Shaanxi Province in northwest China.
5 Gotthard Street Tunnel, Switzerland – 10.46 miles (16.84km)
As soon as holding the title of the world’s longest highway tunnel, Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel has since been surpassed by newer, longer tunnels. Regardless of this, it stays one of many longest-operating tunnels within the prime 10, having opened in 1980.
Building on the Gotthard Street Tunnel started in 1970, and it carries autos at an elevation reaching as much as 1,175 meters (3,855 toes)—which is greater than Wales’ Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
6 Jinpingshan Tunnel, China – 10.90 miles (17.54km)
Not like the opposite tunnels within the prime 10, the Jinpingshan Tunnel limits the sorts of autos allowed to make use of it. This restriction exists as a result of the tunnel was particularly constructed to attach the Jinping Dam—the tallest dam on the earth—with one other close by hydropower facility.
Positioned in a seismically lively area of southwest China, the tunnel’s restricted entry is partly resulting from geological dangers and likewise resulting from heightened safety measures defending the hydroelectric infrastructure.
7 Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China – 11.21 miles (18.04km)
Positioned close to the Tiantaishan Tunnel, the Zhongnanshan Tunnel surpasses its neighbor each in size and in how far it extends beneath the Earth’s floor. Reaching a most depth of 1,640 meters, it ranks among the many world’s deepest tunnels.
Remarkably, development took simply 5 years—similar to the time required for a lot of shorter, shallower tunnels in China. Work started in 2002, and upon opening in 2007, the Zhongnanshan Tunnel was the longest tunnel in Asia.
8 Yamate Tunnel, Japan – 11.3 miles (18.20km)
The Yamate Tunnel in Tokyo, Japan, may be in comparison with London’s Blackwall Tunnel—however on a a lot bigger scale. Whereas the Blackwall Tunnel stretches simply three-quarters of a mile and sits about 1.7 meters beneath the riverbed, the Yamate Tunnel extends for 11.3 miles and runs as deep as 30 meters beneath Tokyo’s bustling inhabitants.
To today, the Yamate Tunnel holds the excellence of being the longest city tunnel on the earth.
9 WestConnex, Australia – 13.67 miles (22.0km)
Accomplished in November 2023, the WestConnex Tunnel is a key element of Sydney’s efforts to cut back visitors congestion. As Australia’s largest highway infrastructure mission up to now, the tunnel itself spans 13.67 miles and kinds a part of a broader 20.5-mile motorway designed to enhance visitors move.
As soon as totally operational, this motorway will join Sydney’s suburbs, airport, North Shore, and metropolis middle. A lot of the land above the tunnel has been reworked into parks, playgrounds, and open areas for the enjoyment of native residents.
10 Lærdal Tunnel, Norway – 15.23 miles (24.51km)
Main the record of the world’s longest highway tunnels is Norway’s Lærdal Tunnel, stretching 15.23 miles underground. Building started in 1995, and the tunnel opened in 2000. The mission took round 20 years of planning and price about 1.1 billion Norwegian Kroner (£85 million), making it a comparatively economical feat within the realm of highway tunneling.
Its decrease value is essentially as a result of secure rock circumstances, which eradicated the necessity for tunnel lining or earthquake-proofing—since vital seismic exercise is uncommon in Norway. The tunnel connects the cities of Lærdal and Aurland and options two separate tubes, every designated for one-way visitors to reinforce security.
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