Ljøtunellen og Strektunellen (Hellesylt)
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You’re now entering one of the region’s most impressive tunnel projects – the Ljø Tunnel and the Strek Tunnel. These mountain tunnels are the result of years of work to make the road between Stranda and Hellesylt safer. Steep terrain, avalanche risk and rough weather have made road construction here a true challenge, demanding both engineering skill and political persistence. The original road was completed after World War II, passing through several smaller tunnels, most of which are now closed or replaced. One of the tunnels here was first built in 1962 and stretched just over one kilometre. Today, it's been extended to almost four kilometres. Another tunnel was blasted through the rock, running parallel to and even crossing under the older one. To protect against avalanches, a 600-metre-long, 12-metre-high rock wall was built using material from the tunnelling itself. The full safety project along this stretch cost over one billion Norwegian kroner, making it the largest road project ever managed by the Møre og Romsdal County Council. Quite an achievement – and a reassuring thought, considering the mountain above you right now.