Skip to main content

NCC picks up Eysturoy and Sandoy tunnel contracts in the Faroes

Swedish construction company NCC has signed a contract to build two sub-sea road tunnels in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago north of Scotland. The first project – the Eysturoy Tunnel between Eysturoy and Streymoy - will cost around €152 million. The value of second one – the Sandoy Tunnel between Streymoy and Sandoy – will cost about €120 million, but there is an option for the government-owned client, P/F Eystur- och Sandoyartunlar (EST), not to proceed. The government created the company, Eystur – og
November 15, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Sub-sea roundabout in planned Eysturoy Tunnel
Swedish construction company 5211 NCC has signed a contract to build two sub-sea road tunnels in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago north of Scotland.

The first project – the Eysturoy Tunnel between Eysturoy and Streymoy - will cost around €152 million.

The value of second one – the Sandoy Tunnel between Streymoy and Sandoy – will cost about €120 million, but there is an option for the government-owned client, P/F Eystur- och Sandoyartunlar (EST), not to proceed.

The government created the company, Eystur – og Sandoyartunlar, specifically to construct the two subsea tunnels, including connecting road and to operate the tunnels, in addition to any other business related to the activity.

The rugged Faroe Islands are where the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean meet, and lie halfway between Norway and Iceland - 320km north-northwest of mainland Scotland.

They cover around 1,400km² with a population of close to 50,000 and are an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. The Faroes have a sub-polar oceanic climate but temperatures often remain above freezing in winter due to the Gulf Stream of warm water flowing up from the far-off Caribbean.

The country’s six main islands, with around 90% of the population, are connected by road. There are also 17 land tunnels. The various islands are connected by two underwater tunnels, in addition to three bridges and seven ferry lines.

The 11km Eysturoy Tunnel will connect the towns of Skálafjørður and Tórshavn. According to the company, the tunnel will run under the Bay of Skálafjørður using two tunnels that connect to a roundabout under the seabed at mid-way. In order to increase safety, no inclination in the tunnel will be steeper than 5% and the lowest point is to be 187m below sea level.

The 10.6km Sandoy tunnel will connect the island of Sandoy to the greater part of the Faroese infrastructure. Lowest point will be 157m below sea level and, similar to the Eysturoy tunnel, the steepest inclination will be 5%.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • £26 million road contracts for Heidelberg in Wales
    April 23, 2025
    Heidelberg has scored road contracts worth £26 million in Wales.
  • Key UK tunnel opens
    February 27, 2012
    The UK's new Hindhead Tunnel is now open to traffic. The ?420 million (£371 million) tunnel runs under the Devil's Punch Bowl in Surrey and will reduce congestion, while boosting safety on the busy A3 route.
  • Amey chooses polystyrene blocks for Scottish tunnel infill
    June 25, 2018
    Amey recently completed an infill project to make safe a disused railway tunnel underneath the approach roads north of Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge. The 420m tunnel was part of the Dunfermline to North Queensferry railway line that provided a link to the ferry service until the opening of the Forth Bridge in 1890. The 4.3m-wide and 5.1m-high tunnel with vaulted roof and brick lining continued in use for freight until 1954. The tunnel runs underneath the A9000 and B981 on the northern approach to the Forth
  • Slovakia tunnelling project on track
    May 9, 2016
    Work on a key portion of a major tunnelling project in Slovakia has been completed. Contractor Doprastav has complete boring of the 2km Ovciarsko tunnel, which forms part of the D1 highway route. The Ovciarsko lies close to Zilina and Doprastav commenced the drive for the 2.367km long tunnel in September 2014. This is one of two tunnels along the 11km stretch of the D1 between Hricovske Podhradi and Lietavska Lucka. This is one of the most challenging sections of the D1 to construct as it requires building