Tendering underway for $30 million Vestmannasund sub-sea road tunnel and adjacent road connections to establish a fixed link between two of the main Faeroe islands, Streymoy and Ví¡gar. Ví¡gatunnilin p/f, a limited, state owned enterprise, owns the concession to design, build and operate the tunnel based on toll revenues. Landsstyrid, the Faeroe Islands state authority, has guaranteed public investments to partly finance the project, which will be supplemented with private funding. The project comprises a 4.9 km long single drill/blast tunnel in basalt with rockbolt and sprayed concrete lining support. The lining will not be designed to handle full water pressure, and excess water will be drained. Lowest datum is 105 m below sea level and rock cover will vary between 30 and 50 m with a maximum water depth of 60 m. Construction starts mid-2000 on a 3 year duration. O. T. Blindheim AS is technical adviser for the Owner, whilst Landsbyggifelagid is the local technical consultant and will also assist in site supervision. Norconsult prepared the tender documents. More from www.blindheim.no and www.norconsult.no June 2000.