Editing Triangle Link (section)

{{Short description|Fixed link of tunnel, road, and three bridges between Sveio, Norway, and Stord and Bømlo islands}}
{{Good article}}[[File:Stord Bridge (Stordabruo)-edit.jpg|thumb|[[Stord Bridge]] with Stord in the background]]
The '''Triangle Link'''  ({{langx|no|Trekantsambandet}}) is a [[fixed link]] with three branches connecting the islands of [[Stord (island)|Stord]] and [[Bømlo]] to each other and the mainland at [[Sveio]], [[Norway]]. It consists of the underwater [[Bømlafjord Tunnel]] from Sveio to the island of [[Føyno]], the [[Stord Bridge]] from there to Stord, and a road including the [[Bømla Bridge]] and the Spissøy Bridge to Bømlo. The section from Sveio to Stord is part of [[European route E39|European Route E39]], while the branch to Bømlo is part of [[Norwegian County Road 542|County Road 542]].

The Bømlo Tunnel is {{convert|7860|m|sp=us}} long and reaches {{convert|260|m|sp=us}} below mean sea level. It is the longest [[list of subsea tunnels in Norway|subsea tunnel in Norway]] and was the deepest in the world when it opened. The Stord Bridge and Bømla Bridge are both [[suspension bridges]], with lengths of {{convert|1077|and|998|m|sp=us}} and main [[span (architecture)|spans]] of {{convert|677|and|577|m|sp=us}}. The Spissøy Bridge is a {{convert|283|m|sp=us|adj=on}} [[beam bridge]]. The link is {{convert|21.5|km|sp=us|adj=on}} long [[toll road]] with a [[toll plaza]] on Føyno. The section from Stord to Bømlo has a pedestrian and bicycle path.

Plans for a link between Bømlo and Stord were first launched as a [[pontoon bridge]] in the 1960s. In the late 1980s, the plans evolved into a triangular project. There was controversy surrounding the project, in particular from environmentalists. The [[Parliament of Norway]] passed the plans in 1996, and construction started the following year. The bridges and link between Stord and Bømlo opened on 28 December 2000, while the tunnel opened on 30 April 2001. The link cost 1.8 billion [[Norwegian krone]] (NOK) after substantial [[cost overrun]]s and remained a toll road until 30 April 2013.