Editing Triangle Link (section)

==Route description==
[[File:Trekantsambandet.jpg|thumb|Overview of the Triangle Link, with the Stord Bridge to the left, the Bølmo Bridge in the middle, Spissøy Bridge to the right and the Bølmafjord Tunnel below the fjord up to the right]]

The Triangle Link is part of two routes, [[European route E39]] and [[Norwegian County Road 542|County Road 542]]. The section from Stord to Sveio, including the Stord Bridge and the Bømlafjord Tunnel, is part of the E39 highway (the Coastal Highway) which runs along the west coast of Norway. The section from the interchange on the island of [[Føyno]], including the Bøla Bridge and the Spissøy Bridge, is on County Road 542. The link acts both as a mainland connection for Stord and Bømlo to the mainland at Sveio, as well as a link between the two island communities, which have a combined population of 30,000.<ref name=h7>Hauge: 7</ref>

The Bømlafjord Tunnel is a {{convert|7860|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long [[subsea tunnel]] which crosses [[Bømlafjorden]]. It is {{convert|11|m|sp=us}} wide, {{convert|4.7|m|sp=us}} tall and reaches {{convert|260.4|m|sp=us}} below [[mean sea level]]. The tunnel has three lanes, one downhill and two uphill, with the direction of the extra lane switching at the bottom.<ref>Hauge: 109</ref> When it opened, it was the longest and second-deepest subsea tunnel in Europe.<ref name="h108"/> Stord Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Digernessundet, connecting Stord with Føyno. It is {{convert|1077|m|sp=us}} long and has a main span (distance between the [[tower|pylons]], or towers) of {{convert|677|m|sp=us}}. The bridge is {{convert|13.5|m|sp=us}} wide and has a clearance of {{convert|18|m|sp=us}}. It has two {{convert|97|m|sp=us|adj=on}} tall pylons, one foundationed on Digernesklubben and one on Føyno.<ref name=h104>Hauge: 104</ref> The pylons were built in concrete, while the deck is built as 19 in steel sections, each {{convert|36|m|sp=us}} long and weighing {{convert|150|t}}.<ref name="h105"/> Stord Bridge has the second-longest span in Norway, after the [[Askøy Bridge]].<ref name=h104 />

[[File:Triangle Link map upload.svg|thumb|left|A map of the Triangle Link and the ferry services it replaced]]
Bømla Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Spissøysundet, connecting Spissøy and Nautøya. It is {{convert|998|m|sp=us}} long and has a main span of {{convert|577|m|sp=us}}. The bridge is {{convert|13|m|sp=us}} wide and has a clearance of {{convert|36|m|sp=us}}. The higher clearance was built to allow ship traffic which runs through [[Nyleia]] between Bømlo and Stord to continue to run. The bridge has two {{convert|105|m|sp=us|adj=on}} tall pylons, one foundationed on Brunsholmen and one on Spissøy. The bridge has a similar aesthetically design to the Stord Bridge, and also features a steel deck with concrete pylons.<ref name=h106>Hauge: 106</ref> It has the fifth-longest span in Norway.<ref name=h104 /> Spissøy Bridge is a beam bridge which crosses Gassasundet, connecting Bømlo with Spissøy. It is {{convert|283|m|sp=us}} long, consists of five spans and has a clearance of {{convert|7|m|sp=us}}.<ref name=h106 />

The fixed link project also included {{convert|12|km|sp=us}} of highway. On Stord, E39 received a new two-lane, limited-access road from Meatjørn to the bridge. This included a new [[grade separated]] (two-level) [[interchange (road)|interchange]] in the southern part of [[Leirvik]] and a [[culvert]]—the Digernes Tunnel—immediately before the bridge. In Sveio, the link included {{convert|800|m|sp=us}} of new limited-access road from the tunnel to a grade-separated interchange at Dalshovda. In Bømlo, there was a new road built across the islands of [[Spissøy]] and [[Nautøy]]—including an [[intersection (road)|intersection]] on Spissøy. It further consisted of a new section of road from the Bømlo side of Spissøy Bridge at Gassasundet to Røyksund, and from Gassasundet to Grøvle, including a new tunnel through Stokkajuvet. A combined pedestrian and bicycle path runs along the whole section between Stord and Bømlo, with a grass division on the land parts between the road and the path. Underpasses and walls were built with [[natural stone]].<ref name=h102>Hauge: 102</ref>

The tolls are collected at a toll plaza located on Føyno. The plaza is constructed as a grade-separated intersection, so that any car passes through the plaza once. However, traffic only traveling between Føyno to Bømlo does not have to pay. Cars driving along E39 drive straight ahead through the plaza, while cars to or from Bømlo need to use the interchange. There is also an intersection allowing access to the island. The plaza has six lanes, of which two in each direction have a toll booth and one in each direction has an automatic collection. The toll station uses the [[Autopass]] toll collection, which allows passage without stopping, in addition to manual collection.<ref name=h110>Hauge: 110</ref> Passengers, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcyclists and mopeds are free.<ref name=h111>Hauge: 111</ref> After a restructuring of the toll costs in 2006, the fees were NOK&nbsp;85 for cars and NOK&nbsp;270 for trucks, having previously had two separate fees for small and large trucks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trekantsambandet.no/PrisarogAvtale.aspx |title=Prisar og avtale |author=Sunnhordland Bru- og Tunnelselskap |language=Norwegian |access-date=31 August 2011 |archive-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315153849/http://www.trekantsambandet.no/PrisarogAvtale.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Frequent travelers can prepay for at least 40 passings to the toll company, and receive a 40 percent discount.<ref name=h110 /> After the down payment was finished in April 2013, the tolls were removed and the roads became free to travel on starting 30 April 2013.