The Vágatunnilin (Vágar Tunnel) is a undersea road tunnel in the Faroe Islands. It goes under Vestmannasund Strait and connects the two islands of Streymoy and Vágar. The tunnel was the first undersea tunnel in the Faroe Islands and connects the capital of Tórshavn, on Streymoy, with Vágar Airport, on Vágar.
History
Surveyor drills were executed in 1988, and construction was planned to start in 1989. However, the onset of the economic crisis, almost all infrastructural projects were suspended, including the Vágatunnilin. Only the construction of Gamlarætt, a new ferry port to Sandoy, continued.
After the false start, the second attempt at construction started on 28 September 2000. The tunnel was opened for public traffic was 10 December 2002. Traffic has steadily increased from 359,440 vehicles in 2003 to 1,073,558 in 2024 (2,933 per day).
Before the tunnel was opened, a ferry across the Vestmannasund between Vestmanna and Oyrargjógv was operated by Strandfaraskip Landsins. Both ferry docks are now in disuse.
Characteristics The tunnel has a two-lane road wide. Its deepest point is below sea level. There is a road toll, which pays for the maintenance for the tunnel`s maintenance. The investment of 240 million Danish kroner was paid back at 10 December 2016, exactly 14 years after opening.Fyrispurningur eftir Tingskipanini § 52a
See also List of tunnels of the Faroe Islands
References
External links The tunnel toll company (English)