• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.1 s.66
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

In Norway, about 30 subsea tunnels have been constructed over the last 20 years. The minimum depth of 17 subsea tunnels is 56 m and rock cover are between 23 and 49 m. As the project areas for subsea tunnel are covered by water, special investigation techniques need to be applied and the investigation results are more uncertain than that of most conventional tunnel projects. The indefinite potential of water inflow and the salinic character of ingress water represent considerable problems for tunnel equipment and rock support materials. The least stable conditions are represented by major faults or weakness zones containing heavily crushed rock and clay gouge. This paper introduces the Oslofjord subsea tunnel project including minimum rock cover requirement, risk of water inflow, investigation costs, construction costs, and traffic & operation costs.