Global Deep Dive: The World’s Longest Street Tunnels

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In the realm of modern civil engineering, tunnel construction has become a testament to human ingenuity, overcoming natural barriers with sprawling underground passages. Here’s a spotlight on the longest street (road) tunnels in operation around the world today:

1. Lærdal Tunnel – Norway (24.51 km / 15.2 mi)

Overview: Running beneath the Norwegian mountains to link Lærdal and Aurland on the E16, this tunnel, completed in 2000, is the world’s longest road tunnel.
Safety & Comfort: To combat fatigue and claustrophobia during its 20-minute traverse, innovative features include cave-like rest zones every ~6 km, dawn-simulating lighting, rumble strips, progress signage, emergency phones, speed radars, and an air-cleaning system with electrostatic and carbon filters.
Farewell to Ferries: It dramatically improved reliability and connectivity by enabling direct year-round travel between Bergen and Oslo without mountain passes or ferries

2. WestConnex – Australia (22.4 km / 13.9 mi)

Location: This Sydney-based motorway tunnel project includes the M4–M8 link, which opened in 2023
Function: As a multi-lane expressway, it significantly enhances traffic flow across the city’s western and inner corridors.

3. Yamate Tunnel—Japan (18.20 km / 11.3 mi)

Scope: Tokyo’s centerpiece tunnel beneath the urban sprawl, part of the Shuto Expressway C2 loop, has been fully operational since 2015
Design & Safety: Built in segments over decades, it benefits from dual tubes and thoughtful lighting patterns to aid driver alertness

4. Zhongnanshan Tunnel – China (18.04 km / 11.21 mi)

Details: Spanning Shaanxi province, this twin-bore tunnel cuts through Zhongnan Mountain and was opened in 2007 after five years of construction.
Engineering: With depths reaching ~1,640 m, it features dual tubes, multiple ventilation shafts, and mood-enhancing lighting and plants to reduce monotony.

5. Jinpingshan Tunnel – China (17.54 km / 10.9 mi)

Purpose: Completed in 2011, this twin-bore tunnel serves the Jinping hydropower complex in Sichuan province.

6. Gotthard Road Tunnel – Switzerland (16.94 km / 10.5 mi)

Historical Significance: Opened in 1980, this tunnel pierced the Swiss Alps between Uri and Ticino, retaining the title of Europe’s longest road tunnel at the time.
Legacy: It surpassed the Mont Blanc and Fréjus tunnels of yesteryear

7. Tiantaishan Tunnel – China (15.56 km / 9.7 mi)

Opened: 2021 in Shaanxi province, further showcasing China’s rapid tunnel infrastructure expansion

8. Muzhailing Tunnel – China (15.226 km / 9.5 mi)

Recent Addition: Activated in 2024 along G75 expressway through Gansu province

9. Zigana Tunnel – Turkey (14.476 km / 9.0 mi)

Opened: 2023, enhancing connectivity in northeastern Turkey.

10. Ryfylke Tunnel – Norway (14.459 km / 9.0 mi)

Function: Operational since 2019, this subsea tunnel beneath a fjord connects Stavanger to the Ryfylke region.

In the Pipeline: Rogfast – Norway

The future crown holder, Rogfast, is under construction—a 26.7 km subsea tunnel beneath Boknafjord, projected to open by 2030. Slated to surpass Lærdal as the world’s longest subsea road tunnel, it will reduce ferry dependency and slash travel time on the E39 route.

These engineering marvels—from Norway’s fjords to Asia’s mountains—stand as symbols of progress, resilience, and driver safety. What was once impossible is now routine: crossing regions through tunnels spanning nearly 25 kilometers in comfort.