Location: Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
Background: About 5,000 different explosions carried out during the construction phase Laerdal Tunnel, which runs under the Norwegian mountains and fjords along the 15 miles, and this is a tunnel that was built with the longest time in the world.
Why Unique: Driving through a tunnel for 20 minutes can be quite monotonous, so the team of psychologists and engineers focused on how to maintain the driver's concentration. "a person's psychological reaction in the tunnel is very important ... it makes a distinction between those who accept the facilities or simply to avoid it," said Youssef Hashash, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois, who has worked 10 projects tunnel different. "Given the length of this tunnel, you need an environment designed with care and good lighting system." Some of the solutions used in Laerdal tunnel including a bright blue light and smooth curve that continues to bend to make the driver concentration. Most important is the fact that the tunnel is divided into several different sections, can take the driver and create the impression that passengers traveling through some of the smaller tunnels.
Location: Coquelles, France
Background: Commonly known as the Chunnel, this giant truktur linking England and France. Completed in 1994, 31-mile tunnel was spent in excess of $ 20 billion.
Why Unique: Linking French and English through the English Channel is an idea that has sparked hundreds of years ago. "There were previous attempts to build a tunnel here, but they were stopped for various reasons, both technical and political," said Hashash. after the found of modern technology, and consider the benefits if the two countries can be connected, then began the mega project. Due to its length, designers build another smaller tunnel to the street to escape in case of fire or accident in the tunnel.
Location: Zion Canyon, Utah
Background: The driver will find these structures in the Mount Zion National Park Utah and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Why Unique: A series of carved windows adorn the driver's side of the tunnel as a means of enjoying the scenery. "When you leave Zion headed to Bryce, you climb this path and go through the tunnel this beautiful. You can see rock formations and beautiful scenery," said Hashash. Because the tunnel was built through the sandstone, which is relatively soft rock, engineers have to strengthen the structure a few times over the past 80 years, adding concrete ribs and 24-hour monitoring system.
Location: Tijuana, Mexico
Background: Criminals have been using underground tunnels to do all kinds of crimes, including bank robbery and drug smuggling. During the past decade, smuggling tunnels have been discovered in U.S. territory, comes from Canada and Mexico.
Why Unique: In December, officials of the United States and Mexico found the tunnel length of 1000 feet, which leads to the U.S., although not complete, the tunnel is equipped with lighting, a ventilation system, electricity, and even elevators. A statement from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) show that the tunnel was built for two tahun.4. Tunnel smuggling
Location: Tijuana, Mexico
Background: Criminals have been using underground tunnels to do all kinds of crimes, including bank robbery and drug smuggling. During the past decade, smuggling tunnels have been discovered in U.S. territory, comes from Canada and Mexico.
Why Unique: In December, officials of the United States and Mexico found the tunnel length of 1000 feet, which leads to the U.S., although not complete, the tunnel is equipped with lighting, a ventilation system, electricity, and even elevators. A statement from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) show that the tunnel was built over the past two years.
Marmaray Tunnel
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Background: This intercontinental tunnel construction began in 2004, but archaeological finds from the Byzantine era and other hurdles have delayed its completion.
Why Unique: this immersed tube tunnel will be the first to merge two different continents, running under the Strait of Bosporus to link the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side. Marmaray Tunnel is the deepest immersed tube tunnel in the world, with a maximum depth of 180 meters.
Thames Tunnel
Location: London, England
Background: At first glance does not look impressive Thames Tunnel, 1300 feet long and 75-foot depth and looks pale compared to the other tunnel. But the Thames Tunnel is a milestone in tunnel engineering.
Why Unique: "This is the first underwater tunnel, and it was the first time the concept of shield tunneling is used," Hashash told. "This is a major milestone." Shield tunneling is a tool developed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel who serves as a temporary support structure, which allows construction crews to safely, and flat, install a permanent support system is under water. Building the Thames Tunnel was such a novelty at the beginning of the 19th century that visitors would pay to get in on the construction site, and even Brunel concerts and banquets in the unfinished structure. When the tunnel was completed in 1843, Queen Victoria gave to Brunel knighted for his services in the construction world.
Location: Bay Area, California
Background: Yerba Buena Island is a small piece of vacant land in San Francisco Bay, between Oakland and San Francisco. A five-lane bridge on one side, with two suspension bridges on the other.
Why Unique: With a diameter of 76 feet, Yerba Buena Island is the largest single tunnel in the world, opened in November 1936. Hashash speculated that adding the tunnel was the most cost savings and a possible solution to pass through the island, rather than just build a big bridge.
Location: Natural Tunnel State Park, Virginia
Background: The development of this tunnel began millions of years ago, when the carbonic acid from eroding the limestone and dolomite bedrock. An article published in the journal of geology in 1832 is the first documentation of the existence of this tunnel.
Why Unique: Tunnel with 200-foot width is large to accommodate trains, so that in 1906 Southern Railway built track passengers through the structure of this nature. Today, passenger trains no longer used, but transport continues to transport the coal through the tunnels on a regular basis. Because of awe at the structure of this nature, William Jennings Bryan, presidential candidate tahuna1896 and Woodrow Wilson's secretary of state, said it was the eighth wonder of the world.
