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Eysturoy tunnel built by NCC opened in Faroe Islands

The Eysturoy tunnel, constructed by NCC for the customer P/E Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar (EST), was formally opened on Saturday. The 11.2 km subsea tunnel represents a significant infrastructure investment, which will reduce travel time to the capital city of Tórshavn from many places in the Faroe Islands.

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Photo: Estunlar.fo

"NCC congratulates all the people of the Faroe Islands and the company EST on the opening of the tunnel. As the main contractor, we are delighted to deliver, according to schedule, the first of two tunnels that will make life easier for the inhabitants of Faroe Islands," says Per Jonsson, head of division Civil Engineering Norway at NCC Infrastructure.

Tunnel construction began in January 2017, with breakthrough achieved on June 7, 2019. At its deepest point, the tunnel is 187 meters below sea level and includes the Atlantic's first and only subsea roundabout. With the entire tunnel opened for traffic, the Faroese capital of Tórshavn is now connected to both sides of Skálafjørður fjord.

"The opening of the tunnel is very important since it helps to bring Faroese society, businesses and people closer together," says Teitur Samuelsen, CEO of the developer P/E Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar (EST). "Construction of the Eysturoy tunnel has gone very well, and I would like to thank NCC and its employees for an excellent job."

Largest infrastructure investment
NCC is in full swing with the second phase of the Faroe Islands contract, construction of the 10.8 km Sandoy tunnel, which will go from Gamlarætt on Streymoy to Traðardalur on Sandoy. This tunnel is scheduled to be ready in 2023.

Both tunnels will contribute to safer roads and reduced journey times to Tórshavn from many places in the Faroe Islands, and make an important contribution to bringing communities, businesses and people closer together. Construction of the two tunnels is also the largest infrastructure investment ever made in the Faroe Islands.