List of tunnels of the Faroe Islands

Árnafjarðartunnilin's entrance in Árnafjørður.

Red: Islands or the so-called Mainland connected by road (bridge, dam or tunnel), as of December 2023. Yellow: Island that would be connected with the Suðuroyartunnilin. Green: Islands accessible only by water or air.

Tunnels and bridges are an important part of the Faroese transportation network.^[1]

Tunnels

Locations of the tunnels

This list shows the Faroese tunnels, listed by age:^[1][2]

Tunnel	Year	Length m | ft		Connects	Island	Comments
Gamli Hvalbiartunnilin	1963	1,450	4,760	Hvalba and Trongisvágur	Suðuroy	Closed for traffic since 2021.
Gamli Árnafjarðartunnilin	1965	1,680	5,510	Ánir, Klaksvík and Árnafjørður	Borðoy	Closed for traffic since 2024.
Gamli Hvannasundstunnilin	1967	2,120	6,960	Árnafjørður and Hvannasund/Norðdepil	Borðoy	Closed for traffic since 2024
Sandvíkartunnilin	1969	1,500	4,900	Sandvík and Hvalba	Suðuroy	Single lane with passing places, unlit.
Norðskálatunnilin	1976	2,520	8,270	Norðskáli and the valley of Millum Fjarða	Eysturoy	First two-lane tunnel. First road connection between Southern Eysturoy and Northern Eysturoy. Replaced the Hósvík-Selatrað ferry crossing.
Leynartunnilin	1977	760	2,490	Leynar and the valley of Kollafjarðardalur	Streymoy	Replaced an avalanche prone road.
Villingardalstunnilin	1979	1,193	3,914	The villages of Mikladalur and Húsar	Kalsoy	Southernmost of the five Kalsoy tunnels.
Ritudalstunnilin	1980	683	2,241	The villages of Mikladalur and Húsar	Kalsoy	One of the five Kalsoy tunnels. Single lane with passing places, unlit.
Mikladalstunnilin	1980	1,082	3,550	The villages of Mikladalur and Húsar	Kalsoy	One of the five Kalsoy tunnels. Single lane with passing places, unlit.
Trøllanestunnilin	1985	2,248	7,375	The villages of Trøllanes and Mikladalur	Kalsoy	Northernmost of the five Kalsoy tunnels. Single lane with passing places, unlit. Replaced a footpath, post boat service and helicopter service (1983-1985).
Teymur í Djúpadal	1979–85	220	720	The Trøllanestunnilin and the uninhabited valley of Djúpidalur	Kalsoy	One of the five Kalsoy tunnels. Effectively a branch of the Trøllanestunnilin to enable road access to pastures. Single lane, unlit.
Leirvíkartunnilin	1985	2,238	7,343	Leirvík and Gøta	Eysturoy	Replaced a cliffside road that now is a touristic route.
Kunoyartunnilin	1988	3,031	9,944	Kunoy and Haraldssund	Kunoy	Single lane with passing places, unlit. Replaced a ferry crossing.
Kollafjarðartunnilin	1992	2,816	9,239	Kollafjørður and Kaldbaksbotnur	Streymoy	Offers an alternative to the Oyrarvegurin mountain road, which is prone to icing and wind gusts in winter.
Sumbiartunnilin	1997	3,240	10,630	Sumba and Lopra	Suðuroy	Replaces a mountain pass that now is a touristic route.
Vágatunnilin	2002	4,940	16,210	Leynar and Fútaklett	Streymoy and Vágar	The first undersea tunnel. Replaced the Vestmanna-Vágar ferry.
Gásadalstunnilin	2006	1,445	4,741	Gásadalur and Bøur	Vágar	Single lane with passing places. Replaced the footpath and helicopter service.
Norðoyatunnilin	2006	6,186	20,295	Klaksvík and Leirvík	Eysturoy and Borðoy	Replaced the Leirvík-Klaksvík and Leirvík-Kalsoy-Klaksvík ferry.
Hovstunnilin	2007	2,435	7,989	Øravík and Hov	Suðuroy	Replaced the cliffside road that now is a touristic route.
Viðareiðistunnilin	2016	1,939	6,362	Viðareiði with Hvannasund	Viðoy	Replaced the coastal road, which is prone to landslides and avalanches, but remains open as a touristic route.
Eysturoyartunnilin	2020	11,250	36,910	Runavík and Strendur with Tórshavn	Streymoy and Eysturoy	Under Sundini and Skálafjørður. The tunnel has shortened the travel distance from Tórshavn to Runavík/Strendur from 55 kilometres to 17 kilometres. The 64-minute drive has been shortened to 17 minutes. The tunnel has the world's first under-sea roundabout at mid-bay.[3]
Nýggi Hvalbiartunnilin	2021	2,524	8,281	Hvalba and Trongisvágur	Suðuroy	Dual lane, lit. Replaces the Old Hvalbiartunnilin from 1963.
Sandoyartunnilin	2023	10,785	35,384	Traðardalur and Gamlarætt	Streymoy and Sandoy	The tunnel starts just above the port of Gamlarætt and ends Traðardalur between Skopun and Sandur. The tunnel opened on 21 December 2023.[4]
Nýggi Árnafjarðartunnilin	2024	1,965	6,447	Klaksvík, Ánir and Árnafjørður	Borðoy	First of the two new Tunlarnir norður um Fjall (also known as Borðoyartunlarnir). Construction commenced in February 2021, the drilling itself started in November 2021.[5][6] Drilling finished on 8 November 2022.[7]
Nýggi Hvannasundstunnilin	2024	2,246	7,369	Árnafjørður and Norðdepil	Borðoy	Second of the two new Tunlarnir norður um Fjall (also known as Borðoyartunlarnir). Construction started in November 2021[8][9][6] Drilling finished on 16 November 2022.[10]
Sum (including closed tunnels)		72,496	237,848		9 islands	4 inter-island tunnels, 18 on-island tunnels in operation and 3 on-island tunnels closed for traffic.

Bridges and causeways

This list shows the longest Faroese bridges and causeways, listed by age:

Bridge	Year	Length m | ft		Connects	Island	Comments
Brúgvin um Streymin	1973	220	720	Oyrarbakki/Norðskáli and Nesvík	Streymoy and Eysturoy	Concrete bridge. Replaced the ferry crossing from Nesvík to Oyrarbakki.
Byrging um Hvannasund	1975	220	720	Hvannasund and Norðdepil	Borðoy and Viðoy	Causeway. Replaced post and milk boat services.
Byrging um Haraldssund	1986	350	1,150	Haraldssund and Strond	Borðoy and Kunoy	Causeway. Replaced post and milk boat services. Causeway between Kunoy (left) and Borðoy (right).
Brúgvin um Sandá	2016	140	460	Argir and Tórshavn	Streymoy	The second longest bridge in the country.[11]

Tunnels under construction

Tunnel	Year	Approx. length m | ft		Connects	Island	Comments
Dalstunnilin	Started in 2020, planned to open in mid 2025	2,165	7,103	Dalur with Húsavík	Sandoy	To replace the narrow cliffside road. Drilling commenced 5 November 2020.[12][13] On 17 November 2022 the halfway mark was passed.[14] The tunnel is expected to open in 2024.
Fámjinstunnilin	Started in 2022, planned to open in early 2025	1,200	3,900	Øravík with Fámjin	Suðuroy	Road access to Fámjin has been prone to fierce winds and icing. Construction of access roads commenced 25 July 2022 while drilling started on 16 November 2022. The tunnel is to be finished mid-2024.[15][16]
Tunnil úr Villingadali (fyrstur Havnartunnilin)	Started in May 2023, planned to open in 2025	1,300	4,265	Two neighbourhoods in Tórshavn	Streymoy	Drilling started on 8 May 2023.[17] To be part of the Innkomuvegurin that is currently being developed between Tórshavn (near Hotel Føroyar), Hoyvík and Hvítanes. The ringroad is to be operational in 2025[18]
Húsareynistunnilin (annar Havnartunnilin)	2025	1,705	5,594	Hvítanes and Hoyvík	Streymoy	To be part of the Innkomuvegurin that is currently being developed between Tórshavn (near Hotel Føroyar), Hoyvík and Hvítanes. The ringroad is to be operational in 2025[18][19][20]

Tunnels closed for traffic

Tunnel	Year of opening	Year of closure	Length m | ft		Connects	Island	Comments
Gamli Hvalbiartunnilin	1963	2021	1,450	4,760	Hvalba and Trongisvágur	Suðuroy	First tunnel in the country and also the first to be replaced by a new tunnel.
Gamli Árnafjarðartunnilin	1965	2024	1,680	5,510	Ánir, Klaksvík and Árnafjørður	Borðoy	First of the two original Tunlarnir norður um Fjall (also known as Borðoyartunlarnir). Single lane with passing places, unlit.
Gamli Hvannasundstunnilin	1967	2024	2,120	6,960	Árnafjørður and Hvannasund/Norðdepil	Borðoy	Second of the two original Tunlarnir norður um Fjall (also known as Borðoyartunlarnir). Single lane with passing places, unlit.
Sum			5,250	17,220

Planned and proposed tunnels

Tunnel	Year	Approx. length m | ft		Connects	Island	Comments
Suðuroyartunnilin	2030+	22,800	74,800	Skarvanes and |Sandvík	Sandoy and Suðuroy	The tunnel would consist of two new tunnels or one long tunnel with a branch to Skúvoy, not including upgrades of infrastructure such as the Sandvíkartunnilin.[21][22]
Vestmannatunnilin	unknown	4,500	14,800	Kvívík and Vestmanna	Streymoy	To replace the cliffside road, prone to icing, rockslides and windgusts. The tunnel would be combined with a tunnel for powerlines from Vestmanna's hydropower station, and would not be ready before 2029.[23] The estimated costs are 500 million DKK.[24]
Tjørnuvíkartunnilin	unknown	0	0	Tjørnuvík with Haldórsvík	Streymoy	To replace the narrow cliffside road.[25] Construction could be starting in 2024.[26]
Gøtudalstunnilin	unknown	0	0	Skálafjørður and Norðragøta	Eysturoy	To offer an alternative to the Gøtueiði mountain pass near Søldarfjørður, which is prone to icing and windgusts.[27] Construction start planned 2026.[28]
Tunnilin á Vagum	unknown	0	0	Vágatunnilin and Vatnsoyrar	Vágar	A bypass for through-traffic between Sørvágur, the airport and Streymoy, bypassing Mið- and Sandavágur. Construction planned 2027 or later.[28]
Gjáartunnilin	unknown	0	0	Gjógv with Funningur	Eysturoy	To replace the narrow mountain pass, prone to icing in winter.[29]

Operator

Public works authority Landsverk operates the national road network including all land-based tunnels. The four sub-sea tunnels have each their own state-owned company brought together under the daily management of Tunnil, which administers the tolls. These are paid by drivers at select petrol stations, via number plate recognition. Reduced fares are available for vehicles with a subscription (in Faroese: hald). Tórshavn Municipality owns the Sandá Bridge.^[30] A 2022 poll suggested continued support for toll charges.^[31]

See also

• Transport in the Faroe Islands

References

1. "Tunlar" (in Faroese). Tórshavn: Landsverk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
2. "Søgulig gongd" (in Faroese). Tórshavn: Landsverk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
3. "The Eysturoy tunnel". estunlar.fo. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
4. "Siglir nú seinastu túrarnar um skopunarfjørð". Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
5. "Loysa fyrsta flagið fyri tunlum". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
6. "Gongdin fyri tunlarnar norður um Fjall". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-12-22.
7. "Síðsta skotið í Árnafjarðartunlinum". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2023-01-22.
8. "Boringin byrjar í næstu viku". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-09-24.
9. "Fegnast um nýggjar tunlar". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-01-26.
10. "Síðsta skotið latið í tunlunum norður um Fjalll". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2023-01-22.
11. "Brúgvin um Sandá – J&K Contractors".
12. "Lata fyrsta skotið av". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2020-11-05.
13. "Dalstunnilin skotin ígjøgnum í november". Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
14. "Dalstunnilin – helvtin borað". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
15. "Vegagerðin til Fámjinstunnilin byrjað". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2022-08-19.
16. "Fyrsta skotið latið av fyri Fámjinstunlinum". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2023-01-22.
17. "Skjóta nú fyrsta skotið á fyrsta havnartunlinum". www.dimma.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2023-05-07.
18. "Kanna møguleika at gera tunnil ovarliga í Havn". www.in.fo. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
19. "Avtalan um innkomuveg og tunnil undirskrivað". Tórshavnar kommuna (in Faroese). 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
20. "Húsareynstunnilin skotin ígjøgnum í næsta mánaði". Dagur.fo (in Faroese). 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
21. "Suðuroy subsea tunnel research shows early promise". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). 26 November 2018.
22. "Minister: Suðuroy tunnel ready in 2030". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). 5 February 2020.
23. "Fundur um komandi vestmannatunnilin mánakvøldið". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2024-03-07.
24. "Vestmannatunnil". www.landsverk.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2023-01-22.
25. Landsverk. "Borgarafundur í Tjørnuvík um Tjørnuvíkartunnil (Citizen consultation meeting in Tjørnuvík about Tjørnuvíkartunnilin)". Landsverk. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
26. "Fara undir Tjørnuvíkartunnilin næsta ár". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2024-03-07.
27. "Gøtudalstunnil".
28. "Farið verður undir tunnilin til Vestmanna í 2022".
29. "Samferðsluætlanin 2018-2030".
30. "Brúgvin um Sandá".
31. "Poll: tunnel toll charge should continue". Kringvarp Føroya (in Faroese). 7 May 2022.

External links

• Tunnil, the Operator of toll tunnels
• Landsverk, the operator of all other national highways
• Short BBC documentary on the unique undersea tunnels that link the Faroe Islands [1]