Ventiflex delivers the ventilation solution for the world's longest and deepest subsea tunnel project
Few projects truly redefine what's possible in infrastructure. Rogfast is one of them. Recently, the team at Protan had the privilege of visiting Skanska on the northern side of this remarkable project, seeing firsthand the progress being made beneath Norway's west coast.
Once completed, Rogfast will become the world's longest and deepest subsea road tunnel. The project consists of two parallel tunnel bores, each stretching 27 kilometers, reaching depths of up to 392 meters below sea level. With a projected opening in 2033, this is one of the most technically demanding and impressive infrastructure projects under construction anywhere in the world today.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) is the project owner and responsible for the overall Rogfast project, while Skanska is the main contractor for the northern section, Boknafjord Tunnel North (E04). Being on site and seeing the work up close, hundreds of metres into the mountain, gave a real sense of the scale and precision a project of this magnitude demands.
In a project where crews work permanently several hundred meters below sea level, a continuous supply of fresh air is critical, not just for productivity, but for the safety of everyone working underground. This is where Protan comes in.
As the global market leader in flexible ventilation ducting, Ventiflex is responsible for maintaining stable air quality throughout construction, no matter how far the tunnel has advanced into the mountain. The ducts are lightweight to transport, quick to install as the tunnel drive progresses, and built to withstand the demanding conditions of a subsea tunneling operation.
The visit to Rogfast offered a clear demonstration of what precise installation combined with a proven product actually delivers. The Ø2.4 m Ventiflex 6298FR ducts showed exceptional performance, with no visible signs of leakage or turbulence in the airflow, even over very long distances.
That kind of result doesn't happen on its own. It's the product of both a high-quality duct system and a skilled installation team that understands just how much precision is required to keep the air supply working flawlessly, kilometer after kilometer into the rock.
The performance seen at Rogfast is closely tied to how Ventiflex is developed and tested. Every system undergoes thorough monitoring and quality assurance before delivery, with testing carried out at Protan's own laboratory in Drammen, approved by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Combined with the ducts' low-friction design, fire-resistant properties, and airtight construction, this makes Ventiflex a ventilation solution built for exactly the kind of demanding, long-term projects that Rogfast represents.
Rogfast is a strong example of what it takes to succeed in one of the world's most challenging tunneling projects: world-class engineering, close collaboration between suppliers and contractors, and an unwavering commitment to safety. We're proud to help ensure that work beneath the seabed off the coast of Rogaland can continue safely and efficiently on the road to its 2033 opening.
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