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Inside the world’s deepest and longest subsea road tunnel | MIT Technology Review by Niall Firth June 22, 2026

 

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  • A tunnel unlike anything built before: Norway's Rogfast will be the world's longest and deepest subsea road tunnel — 26.7 kilometers, plunging 390 meters beneath the North Sea — built entirely by blowing up rock, one blast at a time.

  • Water is the enemy you can never fully defeat: The crushing pressure of the sea above means water always finds a way in; engineers constantly drill ahead, test for leaks, and pump cement-like grout into the rock just to stay ahead of the ocean.

  • The dangers are stranger than you'd expect: Beyond explosions and flooding, designers worry the 30-minute drive will literally put motorists to sleep — so artists will be commissioned to fill the tunnel with shifting lights and colors to keep drivers conscious.
Jul 10, 2026 — longest and deepest subsea road tunnel, called Rogfast … a 26.7-kilometer (16.6-mile) highway that sits 390 meters (1,280 feet) below the sea ...
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It is 14.4 kilometres (9 mi) long [2] and is currently the world's longest subsea road tunnel, and the deepest tunnel of any kind.
Norway's Rogfast is an exceptional engineering feat, opening a route for drivers deep below the North Sea. This story was written by Niall Firth and ...Read more

China's New Undersea Tunnel Is Shocking Everyone
Uploaded: Aug 3, 2026
China is building the Jintang Undersea Tunnel, a mega-project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Inside the world’s deepest and longest subsea road tunnel | MIT Technology Review by Niall Firth June 22, 2026

  MIT Technology Review EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AI assisted, editor reviewed. Learn more about how we are using AI. A tunnel unlike anything built...