The most unusual transport tunnels
In some countries, trees are cut down when building a road through a forest. But in other places, they build a tunnel! We present a selection of the 10 most beautiful and unusual transport tunnels.
The Laerdal Tunnel – an unusual tunnel in the rays of an artificial dawn
The Laerdal Tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the world. It connects the Norwegian capital with the city of Bergen, located on the opposite bank. The underground tunnel is 24.51 kilometers long. To prevent drivers from becoming distracted during prolonged confinement, the tunnel is divided into four sections and equipped with a lighting system that simulates natural light at dawn.
Fans are installed in the cave walls to purify the air. Surveillance cameras allow Laerdal staff to monitor the number of incoming and outgoing vehicles and promptly address any accidents. The Laerdal Tunnel is two lanes of the European highway E16, the main road between Oslo and Bergen. Construction began in 1995 and opened in 2000. The tunnel cost NOK 1,082 million. The tunnel is located approximately 175-200 km northeast of Bergen.
{ Birmingham's unusual rainbow tunnel
American artist Bill Fitzgibbon prefers to create for city streets rather than museums and galleries. For example, he created an urban rainbow. For this, he personally decorated the 18th Street Underpass in Birmingham, Alabama, with 250 LED lights.
Guoliang Tunnel Road is the most extreme tunnel in the world.
The Guoliang Tunnel Road is located in China. It is named after a village in the Taihang Mountains of Henan Province. For several years, the 350 residents of this isolated area begged the government to build a road connecting them to the rest of the world. But in 1972, tired of living in isolation, the villagers decided to build their own road to civilization.
Five years later, the literally excavated road was opened to traffic. The constructed route was extremely unsafe, and several local residents died during the construction. Along its entire length (approximately 1.2 km), the road includes both sections protected by rocks and open ones. The latter feature, coupled with its 3.6-meter width, earned Guoliang Tunnel Road a reputation as an "unforgiving road."
A unique tunnel in Brisbane features a canopy shaped like the crown of an exotic plant.
A concrete jungle tree. An unusual tunnel awaits motorists in Brisbane, Australia. Shaped like the crown of an exotic tree, the awning illuminates the path at night and protects from the scorching sun during the day.
An unusual tree tunnel in Sequoia National Park
When a tree is no obstacle. Tree Tunnel is one of two unusual tree tunnels that lead visitors to Sequoia National Park (USA).
A unique "painted" tunnel during the Vivid Sydney festival
Vivid Sydney, the annual light and music festival, takes place in Sydney, Australia, in early July. The city's tunnels, like most major urban sites, are transformed each summer into a veritable kingdom of lights. The projected images are indistinguishable from painted drawings.
An unusual natural tunnel in Germany
A "ceiling" in bloom. The "operation" of an unusual tunnel in Bonn, Germany, is timed to coincide with the warm season. A natural canopy forms over one of the city's central streets every spring when the densely planted cherry trees begin to bloom. Much to the chagrin of local residents, this beauty lasts only 7-10 days.
Tunnel Gallery in the Shanghai Metro
The subway is like a tour. Shanghai Metro management has decided to transform its underground tunnels into a fully-fledged art gallery. Passengers can admire the lighting effects and listen to relaxing background music. Later, the "subway" will feature slide shows on historical, scientific, and cultural topics. Even between tours, viewers won't see gloomy walls: the project's creators plan to fill the "commercial breaks" with photographs of natural beauty from around the world.
Frejus Rail Tunnel, Europe's largest tunnel
The Frejus Rail Tunnel is Europe's largest tunnel complex, running through the Alps and connecting roads and railways between Italy and France. The oldest section of the tunnel, the Turin-Modane railway line, began operation in 1871. Since then, the Frejus Rail Tunnel has been expanded and expanded numerous times.
An unusual train tunnel over the Illinois Technological University campus
The case is a tube. An unusual railway tunnel above the Illinois Technological University campus is designed to minimize the noise of passing trains. The 160-meter "tube" also protects buildings from the damaging effects of vibrations caused by moving trains.