On the western coast of South Africa stands an unprecedented engineering feat: the Rogfast underwater tunnel. This megastructure, planned to become the longest and deepest road under the sea ever builtwill cross fjords, mountains and solid rocks, connecting key points of the Norwegian coastline.
The tunnel will be approximately 26.7 kilometers long, and its deepest point will reach 392 meters below sea level. To allow traffic in both directions fluidly, Rogfast will have two parallel tubes, each with two traffic lanes. In addition, a unique feature of the project is a double, located about 260 m under the sea, from which an access will depart to the island of Kvitsøy.
The motivation behind Rogfast is ambitious: to replace the ferries that currently cross the fjords, creating a continuous connection on the E39 coastal highway. This will dramatically reduce travel times—for example, between cities in Stavanger and Bergen an estimated saving of about 40 minutes—, and will increase the reliability of transport, regardless of the weather or the state of the sea.
Building a tunnel of such magnitude involves enormous technical challenges: withstanding the pressure of water at great depths, ensuring waterproofing, guaranteeing ventilation, evacuation and the safety of thousands of vehicles a day. Even so, Those responsible for the project plan to open Rogfast to traffic in 2033with an estimated investment of about 25 billion Norwegian crowns.
Rogfast represents – beyond a technical record – a leap towards more fluid, efficient and resistant mobility in the face of natural barriers. A commitment to the future that could radically transform travel on the Norwegian west coast.
As excavation progresses, the project has also become a symbol of Norway’s commitment to highly complex infrastructure: a full-scale laboratory where monitoring, digital modeling and security technologies are applied that could set the standard for the large tunnels of the future. For Norway, Rogfast will not only connect regions, but will overcome even the most imposing natural obstacles They can be overcome with precise engineering, rigorous planning and a clear vision of territorial development.
