Hitra Tunnel

The Hitra Tunnel (Norwegian: Hitratunnelen) is an undersea tunnel in Hitra Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The tunnel connects the island of Hitra to the mainland. The tunnel is 5,645 metres (18,520 ft) long and reaches a depth of 264 metres (866 ft) below sea level, making it the deepest tunnel in the world when it was built, overtaking Byfjord Tunnel.^[1][2]

Hitra Tunnel
Hitratunnelen

View of the north entrance to the tunnel
Overview
Location	Trøndelag, Norway
Coordinates	63.5010°N 9.0974°E / 63.5010; 9.0974
Status	In use
Route	Fv714
Start	Hemnskjela
End	Jøsnøya
Operation
Opened	8 December 1994
Operator	Statens vegvesen
Traffic	Automotive
Technical
Length	5,645 metres (18,520 ft)
No. of lanes	3
Lowest elevation	−264 metres (−866 ft)
Grade	10%

The tunnel begins on the island of Jøsnøya, just south of the village of Sandstad. The tunnel then runs under the Trondheimsleia to the island of Hemnskjela. There is a small bridge connecting Hemnskjela to the mainland. The tunnel was built as part of a large project called "Fastlandsforbindelsen Hitra–Frøya". The project also included the construction of the Frøya Tunnel and the construction of a road and bridge network connecting the islands of Fjellværøy and Frøya.

The tunnel has three lanes. Nearly 2,500 cars pass through it every day. Electronics and pumps handle over 38,000 litres (8,400 imp gal; 10,000 US gal) of water per hour.^[3]

Media gallery

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  View of the south end of the tunnel
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  View of the bridge connecting Hemnskjela to the mainland