If you want to see what driving the E16 used to be like, there's a 10 km scenic detour on the old road through the Lærdal valley. Take the exit towards Borgund village and follow the Borgundvegen instead of the tunnels.
This road dates from 1872, when dynamite was used to blast a route along the river. It replaced the infamous Vindhellavegen - a hairpin road built in 1843 that was so steep it was abandoned after just 30 years. The 1872 road was better, but it runs beneath steep mountainsides prone to rockfall. For over a century this was the main route, but sections were considered dangerous. Don't stop under the cliffs.
The Seltatunnel opened in 2003, followed by the Borgundtunnel in 2004, and the Tuftåstunnel in 2008. Together they shortened the route and bypassed the worst sections.
The old road is now quiet and makes for pleasant driving if you keep moving through the exposed sections. You'll pass small farms, a couple of campsites, and eventually reach Borgund Stave Church. It's also popular with cyclists, since the new E16 tunnels are closed to bikes.