New run in the Oslofjord tunnel at the top of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s priority list

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The Oslofjord tunnel is known to be closed quite often due to accidents and engine trouble on the steep slopes. A new race is planned to improve accessibility. The project is expected to cost NOK 5.83 billion.

Further on the list are E134 Røldal – Seljestad in Western Norway (NOK 3.34 billion), E6 Megården – Mørsvikbotn in Nordland (NOK 10.27 billion) and E16 Hylland – Slæen in Western Norway (NOK 1.64 billion) on the list. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration considers these four road projects to be completely ready for start-up.

– These are projects that are ready for political consideration, says road director Ingrid Dahl Hovland.

On Tuesday, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration presented its portfolio priorities for the period 2023 to 2027 to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, where recommendations are made for the order of major road projects.

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Benefits and effects

The list contains 20 major road projects across the country in order of priority. They are assessed on the basis of planning status, socio-economic benefits and effects. All 20 projects have a total price tag of around NOK 150 billion.

This is the first time the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has made such an overview of road projects in the National Transport Plan in order of priority. This has been done on behalf of the ministry.

In addition to the projects that are now prioritized, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration also has a list of other relevant road projects that cost between NOK 200 million and NOK 1 billion.

– We repair where we can, but sometimes it is necessary to build new. That is why we have many large and small projects all over the country that can contribute to increased value creation for the business community and a simpler everyday life for people, says Hovland.

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Yellow and red «maturity»

The next 14 projects are marked as yellow in the priority list. This means that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration does not consider them as “mature” as the top four.

Here you will find, among other things, the E39 Ådland – Svegatjørn in Western Norway, popularly called Hordfast, which has by far the largest price tag among the 20 projects. The cost forecast for Hordfast is NOK 41.93 billion. The project will ensure a ferry-free connection on the E39 between Os and Stord.

The last two projects on the list are marked as red. This applies to RV. 36 Skjelsvik – Skyggestein in Vestfold and Telemark, and rv. 19 Moss.

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– More important than ever

Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor Party) confirms that he has received the recommendations from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

– Although the signals are clear that there may be less money for transport in the future than planned, a number of new roads will be built in the future. But the economic situation Norway is in makes it more important than ever to get the most transport for the money, he says.

It is ultimately the politicians in the Storting who decide which road projects are to be built and what they are to cost. The so-called portfolio management, which the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has now presented, will be updated every year.

We are the politicians who make the final choices, but this method makes it easier for us to choose to start the projects that will give the most back to society. Good professional advice is always important, but it is especially important now that we see that we will have to prioritize harder in the future, says the Minister of Transport.