Årdalsfjord crossing

To complete the Westland- Road Stavanger-Alesund without ferries, a long floating tunnel anchored by stays and tension arches is necessary. The anchoring must be fixed in steep fjord sides by super bolts that can disperse strong loads evenly on great length into the rock. The bolts must be fixed on 400 metes water depth by remotely operated vehicles. The strain on the tunnel tube and its joints must be reduced by short intervals between its moorings. Steel elements can be reinforced against water pressure by a light substance compressed into hollows. Such stuffed steel may facilitate the use of submerged structures in several ways. If the superbolt and stuffed steel concepts are successful, the economic limits for pontoon bridges will be expanded.