When travelling on long-distance road trips, few drivers truly appreciate the convenience tunnels bring them, cutting through the mountainous landscape to help road users save precious time.
Whilst the majority can be passed through in seconds, drivers using one tunnel in Norway will need 20 minutes of solid driving before they see daylight through the other side.
Situated in the Vestland of Norway, the Lærdal Tunnel is considered the longest tunnel in the world. It spans 24.5km (around 15.2 miles) from the municipalities of Aurland and Lærdal.
Taking five years to produce, and at the expense of NOK 1.05 billion (nearly £74 million), the Lærdal Tunnel was finally opened to traffic in November 2000.
On their website, Visit Norway highlighted that tourists can also experience the tunnel as part of a road trip around the area, which features a wide range of interesting historic landmarks.
They explained: “A round trip full of contrasts is to drive through the Lærdal Tunnel, then stop by the fjord in Flåm, and return over the stunning Aurlandsfjellet plateau on the popular Snow Road between Aurlandsvangen and Lærdalsøyri. This is an opportunity to experience the mountain from both outside and in!
“If you have time, you should visit the 800-year-old Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal, one of the most visited and photographed stave churches. Borgund Stave Church and its visitor centre are open from May – September. In the centre, there is information about the stave church heritage, an exhibition, café and shop.”
Drivers not wishing to travel too far to experience a long tunnel during a road trip could also visit the Queensway Tunnel is the longest of its kind in the UK.
Stretching for two miles, the Queensway Tunnel goes underneath the River Mersey, taking motorists from Liverpool to Birkenhead.
Despite being part of the area since 1934, often called ‘the old tunnel’ by locals, drivers need to pay a toll of £2.10 each time they wish to take their car through it.
