By Lynda Myer
The priority list of commercial initiatives that could receive stone dug from the Stad ship tunnel, was approved by Norwegian Coastal Administration and local authorities.
“We are focused on optimising the Stad ship tunnel project and to create the maximum possible benefit. This includes reusing the stone from the ship tunnel in a sensible manner,” said project manager Terje Skjeppestad.
Being linked to fjords to allow passenger and cargo ships to more safely navigate the Stadhavet Sea, this tunnel is due to be 1.7km long, 50m high and 36m wide. The quantity of removed solid rock will be over than three million m3, which is 5.4 million m3 of blasted stone.
In the municipalities of Stad, Kinn and Vanylven, which surround the ship tunnel, there is a shortage of stone masses and interest has been high.
By benefiting from some of the stone near the ship tunnel for the entrance areas and for new industrial areas in Kjøde and Lesto, the costs in the project is slated to be decreased.
According to Stad municipal director Kristine Dahl: “The stone was a valuable non-renewable resource which would be reused in line with the principles of the circular economy. Through the ship tunnel, we get an entirely new shipping route, and the tunnel masses give us the opportunity to build a new and strong infrastructure for all types of maritime transport, business activities, and a world-class destination. The ship tunnel and the excess masses undoubtedly provide us with unique opportunities.”
Core drilling for the tunnel has so far revealed generally good rock quality but water infiltration was greater than expected.
