![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Awakino-tunnel-600x334.jpg\")
Awakino tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n
Any stretch of road that is substantially enclosed can be called a road tunnel\u00a0but in road planning it’s not considered a tunnel unless it’s at least 80 metres\u00a0long. If it’s between 80-120m it is termed a short tunnel or could be called an underpass. A long tunnel is when it’s more than 120m long. This is defined in\u00a0AS 4825:2011 which deals with fire safety among other things. However, in Europe, a long tunnel is 300-500m and if you drive over there then you will find some countries have a great many long tunnels, as well as tunnels that are very long such as the\u00a0L\u00e6rdal Tunnel in Norway<\/a> which is over 24km.<\/p>\n Contributing factors to whether a tunnel is considered short or long are the risks involved in passing through the tunnel. For example, a tunnel could be physically short but still considered to be long if it hindered emergency operations, such as not having emergency exits.<\/p>\n In many countries, avalanche tunnels are common on mountain roads. One side of the tunnel typically has windows or openings while the roof provides protection from any avalanches.<\/p>\n This tunnel is open on one side, not unlike an avalanche tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n If a tunnel doesn’t have a roof, it’s not a tunnel, it’s a cutting. Some tunnels might be formed by ‘cut and cover’ which is where a cutting is made first and then the tunnel roof added.<\/p>\n Regardless of the length of a tunnel, you need to know how to drive safely in a tunnel<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How long is a tunnel? How long does a tunnel need to be before it’s called a tunnel? For example, when you go under a bridge, is it just a short tunnel? What if the bridge is only a metre…<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tunnel-with-windows-600x399.jpg\")
Tunnel vs cutting<\/h2>\n