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The Top 5 Longest Road Tunnels
| Tunnel | Location | Length (Meters) | Length (Feet) | Year Completed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Laerdal Tunnel | Norway | 24,510 | 80,413 | 2000 |
| 2 | The Zhongnanshan Tunnel (2 tubes) | China | 18,040 | 59,186 | 2009 (est) |
| 3 | The St. Gotthard Tunnel | Switzerland | 16,918 | 55,505 | 1980 |
| 4 | The Arlberg Tunnel | Austria | 13,972 | 45,839 | 1978 |
| 5 | The Hsuehshan Tunnel (twin tunnel) | Taiwan | 12,942 | 42,460 | 2006 |
Special Report
5Facts:
- The journey through the Laerdal Tunnel in Norway takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The design of the tunnel takes into consideration the mental strain on drivers, and the tunnel is thus divided into four sections, separated by three large mountain caves. The caves break the routine, providing a refreshing view and allowing drivers to take a rest.
- Eleven people lost their lives in October 2001 when two trucks collided head-on in the St Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland. One of the trucks was carrying a load of tires, which then ignited and burned for several days, filling the tunnel with a deadly black smoke.
- In 1999 a crash, followed by a fire, in the Mont Blanc tunnel (11.6kms long) between France and Italy killed 39 people. The fire was thought to have been caused by a transport truck filled with flour and margarine and burned for 52 hours.
- Researchers have found in particularly Long tunnels, that if the spacing between the tunnel lights matches the resting rhythm of the heart, it can induce a hypnotic effect and possibly cause the driver to fall asleep.
- The 18-km Zhongnanshan tunnel is expected to be the longest tunnel in China linking Xian, the capital of Shaanxi, with Zuoshui county by 2009.
