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Topics: News, World News, Travel
Niamh Shackleton
I'm not sure about you, but the idea of driving through a 15 mile-long tunnel most definitely triggers my claustrophobia.
Tunnels in general are a no-go for enclosed space-hating people like myself, so it's safe to say I'd personally avoid one than spans 15 miles like the plague.
And I'm not alone in my feelings, as around five to 12.5 percent of the world's population are believed to suffer with claustrophobia, making it one of the most common phobias across the globe.
With this in mind, those behind the Lærdal Tunnel in western Norway took this into consideration.
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The tunnel took five years to build and now connects municipalities of Lærdal and Aurland after its opening in 2000.
Apparently, a team of psychologists were brought onto the project to suggest techniques to help relieve the feeling of confinement.
The tunnel has blue and yellow lighting which, according to El País, is to 'simulate a sort of dawn, keep drivers alert, make the journey more pleasant and avoid possible claustrophobia attacks'.
There's also illuminated rock caves around every four miles for the purpose of adding something slightly more scenic for drivers and passengers than just 15 miles of stone walls.
British engineers are said to have considered taking inspiration from the Lærdal Tunnel in regards to the 18-mile tunnel between Manchester and Sheffield that was in the works.
Ministers of both cities express concerns about claustrophobia, disorientation and tiredness of people going through the tunnel, so looked to the Norwegian tunnel for influence.
The British government are said to have conducted a strategic study into what would have been the UK's longest road tunnel, Highways Industry reported in 2016.
Part of said study quoted research which found that 'proper use of cavern spaces is one of the most effective ways to relieve travellers’ fears and that the colours, lighting and patterns used in the [Lærdal] tunnel help to mitigate the effects of claustrophobia, disorientation and tiredness'.
The UK also looked to the Zhongnanshan Tunnel in China for inspiration. In a bid to keep drivers relaxed in the 11 mile-long tunnel there's things like fake clouds projected on to the roof and artificial palm trees.
Almost a decade on from when the plans for the tunnel were unveiled and works are still to begin; and it seems as if they never will as it's believed the project has been scrapped, with money being the main reason why.
Initially it was said the project would cost £1 billion, but by 2020 this estimate went up to £20 billion - a far cry from the $100 million it cost Norway to construct the Lærdal Tunnel.