Tunnels

While bridges take people and goods over, tunnels take them under or through. Tunnels can shorten the distance or just make the trip possible. Mountains, lakes, rivers and seas are all being tamed by tunnels. Heavy traffic in cities can be diverted under built up areas. Islands can be linked by high speed rail services in undersea tunnels. Mountains can be drilled through providing a speedy traffic connection regardless of weather conditions.

Fast Facts:

• one of the earliest tunnels was from the royal place to the Euphrates River in Babylon, 4000 years ago
• the Romans built many tunnels to carry water
• Laerdal, Norway - World's longest Road Tunnel - open on 27th Nov. 2000 .... 24.5km long
• Seikan Tunnel, Japan, is the longest railway tunnel  open 1988 .... 53.9km long