13 votes

Faroe Islands are set to open an under-sea roundabout – the underwater tunnels connect the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy in a network some 11km long

4 comments

  1. [4]
    wcerfgba
    Link
    I was expecting glass, I think that would be so much cooler than rock: being able to look out and see the ocean all around you as you drive through. Probably would be a distraction to driver...

    I was expecting glass, I think that would be so much cooler than rock: being able to look out and see the ocean all around you as you drive through. Probably would be a distraction to driver though? /shrug

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      frostycakes
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Also a huge safety hazard and would be massively more expensive due to having to engineer the walls to withstand the weight of all that water. It'd be a nightmare if someone were to get into a car...

      Also a huge safety hazard and would be massively more expensive due to having to engineer the walls to withstand the weight of all that water. It'd be a nightmare if someone were to get into a car accident and crack the tunnel glass.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        bloup
        Link Parent
        It's also several hundred feet below the surface, meaning it'd probably be too dark and you'd need to use lights, which would make it impossible to see out of anyway.

        It's also several hundred feet below the surface, meaning it'd probably be too dark and you'd need to use lights, which would make it impossible to see out of anyway.

        3 votes
        1. AugustusFerdinand
          Link Parent
          Yep! At 656ft/200m down there is "rarely any significant light" with it being regarded as "twilight" at that depth. So nothing to see, any windows would need to withstand 266psi/18.36bar of...

          Yep! At 656ft/200m down there is "rarely any significant light" with it being regarded as "twilight" at that depth. So nothing to see, any windows would need to withstand 266psi/18.36bar of pressure (and engineered with an added safety window above that), and would need to be protected in the event of a car wreck or just plain old fashioned wanton destruction by ne'er-do-wells.

          The Faroes have a nice history with tunnels connecting the islands that can be read about here: https://www.cryopolitics.com/2018/05/30/tunnels-faroes/

          2 votes