🏗 World’s First Ship Tunnel

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Hello Fellow Engineers!

Buckle up your hard hats because Norway is digging a tunnel for ships! That’s right, they’re carving a path straight through a mountain to help boats escape the wrath of the Stadhavet sea. Forget about driving through tunnels, now you can sail through one.

And speaking of engineering marvels, ever wondered what it’s like to drive through the clouds? The Millau Viaduct in France makes that possible.

Let’s dive into it 👇

👷‍♂️ Truss Me, I’m an Engineer…

When the Sea Gets Too Rowdy, Just Go Through the Mountain!

Norway is drilling its way into the record book! Forget tunnels for cars or trains, those are old news. Norway’s decided to dig another hole through a mountain, but this one’s not for your morning commute. Nope, this tunnel is exclusively for ships.

That’s right, Norway is building the world's first ship tunnel at Stad.

So, what’s the deal with Stad? Well, this stretch of water, Stadhavet, is Mother Nature’s obstacle course for sailors. With hundreds of storms per year, chaotic currents, waves that laugh in the face of gravity, and winds that’ll blow the hat right off your head, if you haven’t lost it already.

With over 100 stormy days a year, the nearby Kråkenes lighthouse has become a retirement home for old ships. Since WWII, Stadhavet’s swallowed 34 lives and countless vessels.

This won’t be the case when Norway completes its Stad Ship Tunnel—a 1.7-kilometer-long, 37-meter-high, 36-meter-wide tunnel. This engineering marvel is set to be the first and largest planned ship tunnel on the planet, allowing 81% of today’s ship traffic to bypass the watery gauntlet. Cruise ships, cargo vessels, pleasure boats—if it floats, it’s welcome.

Norway’s got big plans for the millions of cubic meters of rock they’ll be excavating too. They’re turning all that leftover rubble into new business opportunities because when life gives you rocks, build an economy!

⚡ Cool Links

🛣️ The new Road Builder Mod in Cities Skylines 2 is amazing!
As Cities: Skylines 2 slowly patches up its original mess, modders are here to save the day. With the new Road Builder mod, you can design roads in real-time, like an architect who finally figured out that straight lines aren’t always evil! Why wait for the devs to fix it when you can do it yourself?

🐈‍⬛ How do you feel about games breaking the 4th wall?
The 4th wall is that invisible line between you and the game. How do you feel about games that try to break through? Some say it depends on the execution: done right, it’s genius; done wrong, it’s just an awkward reminder that you’re playing a game.

🍖 Using enemies as meat shields against turrets!
Vindefiant, inspired by Carrion, lets you embrace your inner disgruntled employee. Fired from his job, Alyx decides that a peaceful exit is overrated, unleashing pixelated chaos and creative carnage.

🇪🇺 How the world’s tallest bridge changed the map of Europe
Soaring above the Tarn gorge like a runway for the gods, the Millau Viaduct is a masterpiece. Often draped in mist, crossing it feels like driving through clouds, and it’s so stunning it has its own fan club—er, visitor center. Forget the Golden Gate; this French bridge changed the map of Europe.

🐕‍🦺 Paddy’s Corner

Replacing Paddy's first ever toy

Paddy’s toy collection started with a dinosaur, and now he’s got a new one. He seems happy…

👾 Game of the Week

Tetris Meets Tower Defense!

I’ve just uploaded part 2 of this ridiculously addictive tower defense game called Emberward.

This game puts you in the shoes of a novice engineer fresh out of the academy, where you get to build defensive mazes using Tetris-style pieces. It’s a mashup of our engineering dreams, strategic block placement, creative problem-solving, and a healthy dose of maze-building.

It’s time for a Bridge Review!

What do we think of the “Eye” Bridge in Tianjin, China?

It’s a bridge with a giant Ferris wheel slapped right on top! It’s apparently the only one in the world, which isn’t surprising.

Want a better view? Just park, hop on and take a spin 120 meters up. It’s the ultimate multitasker: cross a river and see the city skyline in one go.

Final score: 8.5/10

🏗 r/realcivilengineer Spotlight

Thanks to u/NeedForM654 on Reddit for sharing this strong LEGO piece.

🤔 Thoughts from an Engineer

See you next week!

Peace, Love and Towers,

Matt