Kristiansund Mainland Connection

Kristiansund Mainland Connection ( _no. Kristiansund fastlandsforbindelse) or Krifast is a road system on European route E39 and Norwegian National Highway 70 that connects the municipality of Kristiansund, and the islands of Frei, Bergsøya and Aspøya to mainland Norway. Krifast opened in 1992 and consists of convert|25|km|mi of road and convert|6|km|mi bicycle path; the three main structures are the underwater Freifjord Tunnel, the Gjemnessund Bridge and the Bergsøysund Bridge.

A total of seven bridges are part of KRIFAST, the most famous one being the suspension bridge Gjemnessund Bridge from "Bergsøya" to Gjemnes, with 108 m (354 ft) high towers and a span between them of 623 m (2,044 ft). There is also the 933 m (0.6 mi) long pontoon bridge Bergsøysund Bridge from "Bergsøya" to "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 320 m (1,050 ft) deep fjord.

The 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long underwater tunnel goes under the fjord "Freifjorden". It is 134 m (440 ft) below sea-level at the deepest, though the bottom 35 m (115 ft) is 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 authorised 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 on road traffic and car ferry fares (on the ferries to be obsoleted by the tunnel and bridges). As of July 1991, the project employed 427 people, and spent NOK|2 million daily on construction. Four years and NOK 1.1 billion later, in August 1992, Krifast was opened for regular traffic.