Norway’s Bergen is preparing to open the world’s longest tunnel that is built specifically for pedestrians and cyclists. The 2.9 km Fyllingsdal Tunnel is set to open to the public on April 15, 2023, with running and cycling events. It will take about 10 minutes to cycle through and 30 to 45 minutes to walk. The tunnel, which passes through the Lovstakken mountain in south-west Norway, will connect the Fyllingsdalen and Mindemyren districts. The tunnel, which runs parallel to the new light rail system opened in November, has been designed with widths of 2.5 metres for pedestrians and 3.5 metres for cyclists. It will operate between 5.30am to 11.30pm and features well-lit kiosks, security cameras, and emergency phones every 250 metres. The tunnel’s temperature will be adjusted to 7°C and is expected to be a popular training ground for runners on cold days.
The Fyllingsdal Tunnel and the remaining cycle path to Bergen city center are being funded by the Miljoloftet (“Environmental Promise”) state project of the city government. The project aims to make cycling and walking more accessible to more people, reduce traffic in the city, and lower emissions that contribute to global warming and pollution. The journey from Fyllingsdalen to Festplassen square in the city centre, which is currently 7.8 kilometres by bike, will take approximately 25 minutes, almost half the current travel time of 40 minutes.
While the Bergen Bicycle Tunnel is being promoted as the world’s longest pedestrian and bicycle tunnel, some have pointed out that the 3.6 km Snoqualmie Tunnel near Seattle, USA, remains the longest tunnel open to pedestrian and bike traffic. Norwegian officials have acknowledged that the Fyllingsdal Bicycle Tunnel is the second-longest bicycle tunnel, but they argue that it is specifically designed for pedestrians and cyclists, making it the longest tunnel in this category. The Snoqualmie Tunnel was originally built as a railway tunnel and has a different intended purpose.
