Atlantic Ocean Tunnel

The Atlantic Ocean Tunnel (Atlanterhavstunnelen) connects Kristiansund to Averøy Municipality beneath the sea. Opened in 2009, it runs about 5.7 kilometres at a maximum depth of 250 metres — deep enough that the descent is noticeable and the ventilation system becomes audible. For drivers heading to the Atlantic Ocean Road, it is the practical route; for anyone interested in Norwegian civil engineering, the tunnel itself is worth knowing about.

The tunnel replaced a ferry service, radically changing access to Averøy and opening up the Atlantic Ocean Road as a day trip from Kristiansund. There is a toll; in 2024 the charge for a standard car was around 110 NOK. Motorcyclists often find the descent dramatic on the first crossing.

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The tunnel descends to 250 metres below sea level — among the deepest subsea road tunnels in the world. The gradient going down is steep enough that trucks and buses must sometimes use their lowest gears. When it opened in 2009, it replaced a ferry crossing that had operated for generations and cut travel times to Averøy from 20 minutes to under 8.