The Ryfast tunnel system connects Stavanger directly to Ryfylke, eliminating what used to be a 45-minute ferry crossing. It opened on 30 December 2019 after six years of construction.
The main tunnel, the Ryfylketunnel, is 14.4 kilometres long and reaches 292 metres below sea level. When it opened, it became the world's longest and deepest undersea road tunnel. It will lose both records when the nearby Rogfast tunnel opens, expected around 2033.
The project was controversial. Forsand and Sandnes municipalities wanted a cheaper crossing at Høgsfjord instead, which had been the original plan from 1987 to 1999. An action group called "Aksjon Høgsfjordkryssing" campaigned against Ryfast, but lost. Parliament approved the project in 2012.
The tolls are among the most expensive in Norway. As of 2024, a regular car without AutoPass pays around 197 kroner for the main tunnel. With AutoPass you pay about 158 kroner. That works out to over 7 kroner per kilometre, more than three times the average for similar projects. Locals have protested, and there's an ongoing campaign for lower rates.
The tunnel originally opened without speed cameras, despite safety experts requesting them. Average speed measurement was finally installed in November 2022. The speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour. Stick to it.