| Vágatunnilin
– fixed link between Streymoy and Vágar |
24.02.2003

| No. of stamps in the set: |
2 stamps |
| Quantity: |
-
|
| Face values: |
2 x 5.00 DKK |
| Size: |
30,94 x 45,00 mm |
| Presentation: |
Sheets of 20 stamps
|
| Colours: |
Multicoloured |
| Gum: |
PVA Gum
|
| Paper: |
110 gsm |
| Perforation: |
14 per 2 cm |
| Print technique: |
Offset Lithography
|
| Author, design: |
Per á
Hædd |
| Printers: |
Cartor Security
Printing, France |
First Day Cover:

A tunnel passes beneath
Vestmannasund. We can say this now that Vágatunnilin is open to
the public. The submarine tunnel connects the island of Vágar,
where the only airport in the Faroe Islands is located, with the island of Streymoy, where
the capital, Tórshavn, lies.
The starting signal for the work on Streymoy came on 28 September 2000,
and work commenced on Vágar on 27 February 2001. But the idea of
a fixed link across Vestmannasund is much older. Surveys were carried
out up to 1989 and these by and large formed the basis for the result
achieved.
Preparations for the submarine tunnel began in the winter of 1988 so
that work could have begun in April 1989, but this was postponed when
the economic recession hit the islands. Ten years were to pass before
the work was recommenced. The limited
liability company, “Vágatunnilin pf.”, was founded and the first
funds were earmarked in the budget, so work on the tunnel could be
resumed.
Advantages
One of the advantages of a fixed link between the islands of
Vágar and Streymoy is that it takes considerably less time to
travel to and from Vágar. Before the tunnel was completed it
took at least two hours to get from Tórshavn to
Sørvágur, including waiting and the ferry trip itself.
The submarine tunnel has reduced the distance by 10 km, and thereby
reduced travelling time by more than an hour.
For the residents of Vágar the tunnel means that the connection
to the "mainland" makes things far easier. It is possible that more
young people will choose to take an education or to work on the
"mainland", as it is no longer necessary for them to move there due to
the long distance involved. The tunnel has also provided a greater
sense of security, as transport time to the National Hospital has been
dramatically reduced.
Where business is concerned there is a better connection with customers
and markets for companies on Vágar. The customer base has been
broadened and this also represents a challenge, as the residents of
Vágar have gained easier access to service and offers from other
places.
For the Faroese in general the tunnel means less transport time, as
their connections to foreign countries mainly leave from the only
Faroese airport at Sørvágur on Vágar. Links with
the world outside have therefore become more flexible and convenient.
Geology
The Faroe Islands are of volcanic origin. The lowest layers of basalt
are oldest, then come the middle layers, and the most recent are the
uppermost layers of basalt.
The tunnel beneath Vestmannasund only passes through the middle layers
of basalt, which are dissimilar to the two other layers. The lowest and
uppermost layers of basalt are normally broad and clearly separated
from each other, but the middle layers are thin and often interwoven,
which makes them appear more solid.
Geological and seismic surveys, as well as core drilling, have together
provided an extremely precise picture of the material beneath
Vestmannasund. Samples have shown that the rock is strong. The material
is easy to drill through, but slightly less so to blast. There has been
almost no water penetration at Vágar, where the layers of basalt
are dense and firm. There was initially a number of cracks at Streymoy,
but further forward, where the layers were denser and firmer, the work
progressed better and there were fewer places which had to be sealed to
prevent water penetration.
The lowest point above the tunnel is 30 metres, whereas the highest
point is 140 metres. The depth of the sea is no greater than 60 metres,
and, at the deepest point, the tunnel lies 105 metres below sea level.
Facts on the tunnel
Length:
The submarine tunnel is 4.9 kilometres long, of
which around 2.5 kilometres lies beneath Vestmannasund. On Vágar
the road to the tunnel is 1.8 kilometres long, and on Streymoy, 300
metres.
The
roads: There are two lanes in the 10 metre wide tunnel. The
roadway itself is seven metres wide. There are emergency parking spaces
at intervals of 500 metres on each side of the road, and also three
places where heavy goods vehicles can turn in the event of an emergency
arising.
Blasting:
327,000 cubic metres of material were blasted for
the tunnel, etc. The stone from the tunnel was used to build the road
in the tunnel and the harbour at Kollafjørður. 850 tonnes of
explosives were used.
Water
penetration: 1,000 tonnes of concrete were used in the tunnel
to prevent water penetration. Highest permissible water penetration in
a tunnel of this kind is 300 litres per minute for each kilometre.
Water penetration in Vágatunnilin is less than half of this
quantity and pumps immediately lead off the water.
Reservoir:
A 50 metre long reservoir is located at the lowest
point of the tunnel which, in an emergency, is capable of holding all
the water that enters the tunnel for a period of 48 hours if the pumps
should break down.
Budget:
Vágatunnilin was budgeted to cost DKK 240
million in 1999 prices, not including interest during construction or
financing costs. Føroya Løgting (the Faroese Parliament)
granted DKK 160 million for the project, and the remainder was financed
with the help of loans.
Traffic:
Ferries across Vestmannasund transported
approximately 300,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles annually. This
traffic is expected to increase considerably due to the submarine
tunnel.
Timetable:
The tunnel breakthrough occurred just after the turn
of the year 2001, and the tunnel was opened to the public on 10
December 2002.

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