Record-Breaking Cycling Tunnel Debuts in Norway
Discovering the seven mountains encircling the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Bergen, a city on Norway's fjord-dotted west coast, has a new, potentially record-setting method. A three-kilometer-long (1.8-mile) tunnel for cyclists and pedestrians has been carved through the base of Løvstakken mountain, and its creators claim it to be the longest purpose-built tunnel of its kind.
Officially opened on April 15, the Fyllingsdalstunnelen was inaugurated with a family day filled with sporting activities. This state-funded grand project, which started construction in February 2019, has a price tag of around $29 million, or 300 million Norwegian kroner.
The spokesperson for Bybanen Utbygging, the rail company involved in its construction, Camilla Einarsen Heggernes, stated that the tunnel is 100% state-of-the-art. It takes roughly 10 minutes to traverse the tunnel by bike and about 40 minutes on foot. To prevent the tunnel from becoming monotonous, it features various art installations and a variety of colors and lighting schemes, which assist users in locating themselves and provide a sense of direction.
A "sundial" installation is situated at the center point of the tunnel, indicating the time of day and helping visitors orient themselves. The tunnel is straight, barring minor curves at the entrance and exit. To accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians, the tunnel features a 3.5-meter wide bike lane and a 2.5-meter wide lane for walkers and runners. The tunnel is lined with a blue rubber flooring, akin to an athletic track, making the journey more comfortable.
The creation of this new tunnel was an offshoot of the second Bybanen tram line in Bergen, which opened in November 2022. The tram line running through the mountain necessitated a parallel evacuation tunnel, leading the developers to design the new tunnel to serve multiple purposes.
Bergen, Norway's second-largest city, is connected to the nation's capital, Oslo, by the 496-kilometer Bergensbanen railway line. This breathtaking rail route crosses Europe's largest high mountain plateau, the Hardangervidda, whose snow-covered landscapes were featured in the Star Wars sequel "The Empire Strikes Back."
While the Fyllingsdalstunnelen claims to be the world's longest purpose-built cycle tunnel, this title comes with a caveat due to the 3.6-kilometer-long Snoqualmie Tunnel in Washington, near Seattle. This former train tunnel has been repurposed into a pathway for cyclists, runners, and walkers and is a part of the 250-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.
Six European cities were recently listed in a roundup of the world's top 10 bike-friendly cities. Copenhagen boasts 385 kilometers of bike lanes, having introduced its first one in 1892. Strasbourg in France offers around 6,000 bikes at self-service stations available 24/7 for tourists. Lastly, Bern, the Swiss capital, provides an exciting downhill trail for thrill-seeking riders, with a funicular service to the top, eliminating the need for an uphill climb.