The tunnel is part of County Road 557 and consists of the first and second stages of the four-lane motorway project called Ring Road West (Norwegian: Ringvei Vest).

The southern part of the tunnel goes under the Nordåsstraumen, a small strait connecting the lake Nordåsvatnet and the Grimstadfjorden.

The first stage, from Dolvik in Søreidgrenda to Sandeide (with a branch heading east to Straume), started in August 2006 and was opened to the public on 10 September 2010.

Stage two, from Sandeide to the southern tip of the lake Liavatnet, started in 1st quarter of 2011 and was opened to the public in 12 November 2015.

The lowest point of the tunnel is under the Nordåsstraumen strait, reaching 29 metres (95 ft) below sea level.