{{Short description|Road tunnel in Oslo, Norway}} {{Infobox tunnel |name = Festning Tunnel |image = |caption = |line = European Route E18 |location = Oslo, Norway |coordinates = {{coord|59.91|10.73|type:landmark_region:NO|display=inline,title}} |route = |status = |start = Bjørvika |end = Filipstad |startwork = |opened = 1990 |close = |owner = Norwegian Public Roads Administration |operator = |character = |construction= |length = {{convert|1800|m|ft|abbr=on}} |lanes = 6 |speed = |hielevation = |lowelevation= {{convert|-45|m|ft|abbr=on}} |height = |width = |grade = }}
The '''Festning Tunnel''' ({{langx|no|Festningstunnelen}}) is a motorway tunnel on European Route E18 in the city center of Oslo, Norway. The tunnel has two tubes, with three lanes in each. It runs from Bjørvika, under Akershus Fortress, The City Hall Square and Vika to Filipstad. The tunnel is {{convert|1800|m|ft}} and {{convert|-45|m|ft|abbr=on}} elevation at the deepest.<ref name=fakta>{{cite web |url=http://www.vegvesen.no/Vegprosjekter/e18festningstunnelen/Fakta |title=E18 Festningstunnelen Fakta |author=Norwegian Public Roads Administration |language=Norwegian |accessdate=19 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106020930/http://www.vegvesen.no/Vegprosjekter/e18festningstunnelen/Fakta |archivedate=6 November 2009 }}</ref>
The tunnel was previously also known as '''the Mountain Line''' ({{lang|no|Fjellinjen}}) and the '''Oslo Tunnel''' ({{lang|no|Oslotunnelen}}). The name Fjellinjen was since taken over by the company responsible for charging toll fees on the urban toll ring in Oslo. The tunnel changed its official name from the Oslo Tunnel to the Festning Tunnel in 1998 to avoid confusion with the railway tunnel with the same name. In 2008 and 2009, the electrical installation in the tunnel is being upgraded, financed through toll fees, costing {{NOK|240 million}}.<ref name=fakta />
thumb|left|Map of the tunnel In the west, the tunnel connects to Dronning Mauds gate with a cloverleaf intersection, and also has the intersection prepared for a future Slottspark Tunnel. In the east, it connects to Nylandsveien and Ring 1 at Bjørvika. In 2012, the Bjørvika Tunnel will be constructed below Bjørvika, and the new tunnel will connect directly with the Festning Tunnel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vegvesen.no/Vegprosjekter/Bjorvika/Bakgrunn |title=E18 Bjørvikaprosjektet Bakgrunn |author=Norwegian Public Roads Administration |language=Norwegian |accessdate=19 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331084626/http://www.vegvesen.no/Vegprosjekter/Bjorvika/Bakgrunn |archivedate=31 March 2009 }}</ref>
The tunnel was built to remove traffic from The City Hall Square, the square in front of the Oslo City Hall, and allow better access to the waterfront from the city. After the tunnel opened in January 1990, cars remained on The City Hall Square until 1994. In 1995, the Vika Line of the Oslo Tramway was built across the square.<ref name=byarkivet>{{cite web |url=http://www.byarkivet.oslo.kommune.no/OBA/tobias/tobiasartikler/t1986.htm |title=Rådhusplassen |last=Røde |first=Gro |publisher=Oslo City Archive |year=1998 |language=Norwegian |accessdate=19 March 2009}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Tunnels completed in 1990 Category:European route E18 in Norway Category:Road tunnels in Oslo Category:1990 establishments in Norway Category:Toll tunnels in Norway