Hvalfjörður Tunnel

The Hvalfjörður Tunnel is a road tunnel under the Hvalfjörður fjord in Iceland and a part of Route 1. It is 5,770 meters long and reaches a depth of 165 meters below sea level. Opened on 11 July 1998, it shortens the distance from Reykjavík to the western and northern parts of the island by 45 kilometers. Passing the fjord now takes 7 minutes instead of about an hour.

Spölur was the company that constructed, and is now the owner and operator of the tunnel, while the Verkís company handled almost all of the design. This project was a milestone in Icelandic construction as it was the first private finance initiative without direct funding by the state treasury. It is also the only tunnel where tolls are charged.