View source for Kristiansund Mainland Connection

{{Short description|Norwegian road}}
{{infobox highway system
|country=NOR
|title= Kristiansund Mainland Connection
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|map = {{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|zoom=10|coord={{coord|62.9927|7.8051}}}}
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|formed = 1992
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The '''Kristiansund Mainland Connection''' ({{Langx|no|Kristiansund fastlandsforbindelse}} or abbreviated ''Krifast'') is a road system consisting of the [[European route E39]] highway and [[Norwegian National Road 70]] that connects [[Kristiansund Municipality]] to the neighboring islands of [[Frei (island)|Frei]], [[Bergsøya, Gjemnes|Bergsøya]], and [[Aspøya, Tingvoll|Aspøya]] and then to the mainland of [[Norway]]. Krifast opened in 1992 and consists of {{convert|25|km}} of road and {{convert|6|km}} of bicycle paths. The three main structures are the [[undersea tunnel|undersea]] [[Freifjord Tunnel]], the [[Gjemnessund Bridge]], and the [[Bergsøysund Bridge]].<ref name="snl">{{cite SNL|Krifast|Krifast|2025-03-08|Øderud|Hans Thomas|2024-11-25}}</ref> The [[Straumsund Bridge]] is also part of the network.

[[File:Krifast large.jpg|thumb|left|''Gjemnessundbrua'', the suspension bridge]]
[[File:Bergsøysundbrua.jpg|thumb|left|''Bersøysundbrua'', the pontoon bridge]]
A total of seven bridges are part of the ''Krifast'' system, the most famous one being the [[suspension bridge]] [[Gjemnessund Bridge]] from the island of [[Bergsøya, Gjemnes|Bergsøya]] to the mainland of [[Gjemnes Municipality]], with {{convert|108|m|adj=on}} high towers and a span between them of {{convert|623|m}}. There is also the {{convert|933|m|adj=on}} long [[pontoon bridge]] called the [[Bergsøysund Bridge]] which goes between the islands of [[Bergsøya, Gjemnes|Bergsøya]] and [[Aspøya, Tingvoll|Aspøya]], which is the only bridge of its kind where nothing but the ends are anchored to solid rock. The bridge is supported by 7 pontoons, floating on a {{convert|320|m|adj=on}} deep [[fjord]].

The {{convert|5.1|km|adj=on}} long underwater [[Freifjord Tunnel]] goes under the [[Freifjorden]]. It is reaches a depth of {{convert|134|m}} below sea level at its deepest point, though the bottom {{convert|35|m}} of the tunnel is in solid rock. A drive through the tunnel takes about 5 minutes. Because of the relatively steep climb, there are three lanes at each end, but only two at the bottom.

Krifast was authorized by the [[Norwegian Parliament]] and construction began in October 1988. The government pledged to finance 39% of the expenses, the rest were to be taken in as [[toll road|toll]] on road traffic and car ferry fares (on the ferries to be discontinued due to the new tunnel and bridges). As of July 1991, the project employed 427 people, and spent {{NOK|2 million|link=yes}} daily on construction. Four years and NOK 1.1 billion later, in August 1992, Krifast was opened for regular traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fuv.hivolda.no/prosjekt/eriksst/index.htm|title=Krifast, Kristiansund og Freis fastlandsforbindelse|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2010-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135422/http://fuv.hivolda.no/prosjekt/eriksst/index.htm|archivedate=2011-07-16}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Atlantic Ocean Tunnel]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|62|58|28|N|7|46|40|E|type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

{{Bridge–tunnels}}

[[Category:Roads in Møre og Romsdal]]
[[Category:Nordmøre]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kristiansund Municipality]]
[[Category:Gjemnes Municipality]]
[[Category:Former toll roads in Norway]]
[[Category:Bridge–tunnels in Europe]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:European route E39 in Norway]]
[[Category:Norwegian National Road 70]]