On Tuesday, November 16, Norway's first tunnel center opened in Sandnes. The center is unique in the national and international context.

The tunnel centre in Ganddal has been developed in an already existing mountain facility and has been adapted for new use. One of the tunnels serves as a rehearsal room for emergency services, while the other is fully equipped as a road tunnel and will serve as an innovation center for the industry companies in the business cluster VIA — Vital infrastructure arena.

The Tunnel Centre is unique in its kind and has been developed with the aim of being the industry's arena for research, innovation, technology development, demonstration and knowledge building,” says Helen Roth, CEO of VIA.

Rogaland is one of the counties with the most tunnels. It also houses the world's longest undersea road tunnels — Ryfylketunnelen which opened in 2019 and Rogfast which is currently under construction. This is the starting point for VIA and Rogaland Fire and Rescue IKS to establish the centre in Rogaland.

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- We are very happy with what we have achieved so far. Now we will use the time ahead well and fill the center with activities,” Roth says.

The tunnel center has been realized with the support of Rogaland County Municipality, the Norwegian Innovation Clusters cluster program and through donations from the member companies in VIA.

The tunnel center officially opened its doors on Tuesday, November 16 and it was County Mayor Marianne Chesak who cut the cord during the opening. Chesak hopes it will become an arena for new innovation and believes the center will play an important role going forward.

“I believe the test tunnel will help make Rogaland a safer county to travel in, and it will also increase the safety of the existing tunnels in the region,” the county mayor told Stavanger Aftenblad.

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