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The Hvalbiartunnilin (Hvalba Tunnel) is the name applied to two tunnels on the island of Suðuroy, the most southerly of the Faroe Islands. The original Hvalbiartunnilin is the oldest tunnel in the country, while the new Hvalbiartunnilin is the newest (as of 2021). Both tunnels connect the villages of Hvalba and Trongisvágur. The tunnels are owned and maintained by the public works authority Landsverk.

History

The centuries before the tunnel arrived, Hvalba and Trongisvágur were connected by a footpath via the Krákugjógv. Construction of the Hvalbiartunnilin started in 1961 and it opened in 1963, as the first tunnel in the country. It closed on 8 May 2021 with the opening of the new tunnel. The old tunnel was an unlit, one-lane tunnel, measuring 1.450 metres in length. Because of its limited clearance of 3.2 metres, it could not handle modern-sized large vehicles, which typically measure 3.7 to 4.0 meters, including lorries, trailers and touringcars. This impededed transport to the rest of the country. Northbound traffic had to yield to southbound traffic in passing places, slowing down transit and reducing road safety.

In 2017 it was decided to replace the old tunnel with a new tunnel. This tunnel, with two lanes and a clearance of 4.5 meters, measures 2.500 metres in length. Drilling started on 27 June 2019 and finished on 7 July 2020. A new access road of 2.4 kilometres is constructed on the Hvalba side and 1.4 km on the Trongisvágur side. The tunnel is built by ArtiCon and LNS. It cost 272 million DKK. The tunnel opened on 8 May 2021 with a ceremony, oldtimers and a convoy of lorries that previously could not access Hvalba. The old tunnel will be repurposed, although it will continue to be used for motor traffic as a back-up connection when the new tunnel is closed for any reason.

The new Hvalbiartunnilin would gain additional importance if the subsea Suðuroyartunnilin be constructed between Sandvík on Suðuroy and the isle of Sandoy. This tunnel is yet to be decided upon, but should according to plans open around 2030. Sandoy is connected to capital Tórshavn and the rest of the country via the Sandoyartunnilin.

The footpath between Hvalba and Trongisvágur is a popular hiking route.

Gamli Hvalbiartunnilin

Entrance near Hvalba
Overview
Location	Hvalba and Trongisvágur, Faroe Islands
Status	Closed for traffic
Operation
Work begun	1961
Opened	1963
Owner	Landsverk
Operator	Landsverk
Traffic	Automotive
Vehicles per day	900 (2017)
Technical
Length	1,450 m (4,760 ft)
No. of lanes	1
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Highest elevation	227 m (745 ft)
Lowest elevation	150 m (490 ft)
Tunnel clearance	3.2 m (10 ft)
Width	3.3 m (11 ft)
Grade	5.61%

See also

• List of tunnels of the Faroe Islands

References

1. "Hvalbiartunnilin".
2. "Tunlar".
3. "Hvalbiartunnilin".
4. "Nýggi Hvalbiartunnilin verður skotin ígjøgnum týsdagin".
5. "Útbjóðing av Hvalbiartunlinum".
6. "Útbjóðing av Hvalbiartunlinum".
7. "Hvalbiartunnilin verður tikin í nýtslu". Landsverk (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-05-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. "Nú skal nýtt lív í gamla Hvalbiartunnilin". dagur.fo (in Faroese). Retrieved 2021-07-16.
9. "Suðuroyartunnilin".

• Tunnels in the Faroe Islands
• Tunnels completed in 1961