Lærdal Tunnel is said to be the world's longest road tunnel
Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, West Norway, the Lærdalstunnelen is the world's longest road tunnel at 24.5 kilometers (15.2 miles) long. It is not recommended if you suffer of claustrophobia.
The tunnel carries two lanes of the asphalted European Route E16 and links Aurland and Lærdal. Construction began in the mid-1990s and opened to traffic in 2000. The tunnel does not have emergency exits. The length of the tunnel (takes 20 minutes to drive through) prompted engineers to include various features designed to alleviate claustrophobia and tiredness. The tunnel bypassed the scenic 49km long Aurlandsfjellet, a National Tourist Route.
The tunnel bypassed an old high mountain road. Engineers separated the tunnel into different sections to give the illusion that drivers are traveling through a number of smaller tunnels. In these smaller sections, drivers can take breaks. Lighting is a central factor - every 6 km the area is widened and these rock chambers are fitted with special lighting- which has been installed to prevent drivers from falling asleep behind the wheel. The tunnel saves people from traveling through difficult mountain crossings during winter and the hassle of ferry connections. It’s one of the longest tunnels of the country.