In April, Norway unveiled Europe’s longest cycle and pedestrian tunnel. A weekend of events featured a race and bike parade through the 3-kilometer (1.8 mile) tunnel built in Bergen, Norway. It has been named the Fyllingsdalstunnelen and runs through Løvstakken mountain. By foot, the tunnel takes about 40 minutes to pass through and on bike it’s a quick 10 minutes. The tunnel is also lined with art installations, colors, and lighting to provide an enjoyable viewing experience. At the center point, there is a sundial art piece to give visitors an idea of where they are at, as well as break up the straightness of the tunnel.
Photo Source: Iver Daaland Åse / Bybanen Utbygging
The goal of this tunnel is to encourage people to choose walking and cycling over driving, reducing emissions and pollution. Both cyclists and pedestrians can use the tunnel at the same time as there are two lanes dedicated to each mode of transportation. It is also a favorable place to visit as the tunnel is lined with a blue rubber flooring, mimicking an athletic track. In addition, it is kept at 7 degrees Celsius (45° F), which makes it a nice alternative in colder weather.
The inception of the tunnel came about with the addition of Bergen’s second tram line. The tram line running through the mountain needed to have a parallel tunnel as an evacuation means. The developers decided to make the evacuation tunnel multi-purpose for cyclists and pedestrians. This is yet another great example of Norwegian innovation.
Not only is the tunnel being marketed as Europe’s longest cycle and pedestrian tunnel, it is also being advertised as “the world’s-longest purpose-built cycling tunnel.” This specification is because there is a 3.6 km tunnel in Seattle, Washington, that although technically longer, was not built solely for exercise enthusiasts; it was a former train tunnel that is now used for pedestrians and cyclists.
This new addition to Bergen’s landscape is a testament to Norway’s ongoing focus on sustainability and the environment.