The tunnel opened on 31 May 1986 and it is part of Norwegian National Road 5.

The opening ceremony was led by former US vice president Walter Mondale who has family connections to Fjærland.

The tunnel goes through mountains in the Jostedalsbreen National Park which lies between the two villages.

[1][2] The village area of Fjærland was only accessible by boat on the Fjærlandsfjorden until 1986 when this tunnel opened.

Then in 1995, the Frudal Tunnel opened which continued National Road 5 from Fjærland all the way to Sogndalsfjøra.