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On Monday, NRK wrote that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration will not prioritize improvements to the E6 Saltfjellet, E10 Bjørnfjell mountain passes in Nordland and E6 Sennalandet in Finnmark.
This despite the fact that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration itself describes the project as being of “importance for national social security”.
One of those who reacts is Kjell-Børge Freiberg, Frp’s parliamentary representative in Nordland.
He thinks it is useless not to repair the road over Saltfjellet. Freiberg says Frp will not accept the project being postponed.
Storting’s representative, Kjell-Børge Freiberg, will work to ensure that the project takes priority over the next 6-year period.
Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix
– We have spent billions building a new E6 in Nordland. We have not built this road so that motorists and trailers will reach a barrier in Saltfjellet as soon as possible, Freiberg says.
He says that the need for open communication in winter over the mountains is great.
– 141 times last year, the main artery was cut, it just isn’t acceptable.
The report shows the main consequences of road closures
Samferdselsforum Nord received a report earlier this fall about roads closed in winter. It shows that road delays have led to millions in losses for seafood exporters in northern Norway.
When they presented the report to the ministry, they expressed that it was interesting and supported the reasoning.
The report also indicates that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has not calculated the benefit to the freight industry by keeping the roads open. Once they have evaluated the socioeconomic profitability.
The truck owners association also reacts to the fact that the project has been removed from the priority list of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Fresh fish on the way to Europe has no time for closed roads, says Frank Lauritz Jensen of the Norwegian Association of Truck Owners.
Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell
– It is very unfortunate for northern Norway. Open roads are the first premise for exports and imports in the region, says Frank Lauritz Jensen,
He is an advisor and spokesperson for the Norwegian Truck Owners Association.
– The cost of postponing the project is formidable. Fresh fish on the way to Europe doesn’t have time for closed roads, he adds.
– It will give immediate effect
Samferdselsforum Nord deputy director Stein Windfeldt thinks it strange that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has chosen, in any case, to prioritize the project.
– It has been documented that it generates great economic losses for a large and important industry. It is a small project. It is easy to implement quickly and will have great immediate effects.
When the report came in, he hoped it would contribute to political breakthrough for several road projects in northern Norway.
Windtfeldt doesn’t think it is sustainable for the project to be postponed so far into the future.
This means we are heading into nine winters in a meeting where we will continue to struggle with poor accessibility on these important winter roads, Windfeldt says.
– It has many projects throughout the country.
The Director of Development of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Kjell Inge Davik, agrees that the project has a high utility value.
Director of Development of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Kjell Inge Davik
Photo: Jo Vegard Aardal / Statens vegvesen
However, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration will not give priority to it in the first six years of the new National Transport Plan.
– We focus on this project as well, but we have many projects across the country that we want to start. We know the project is a good one and we want to finish it in twelve years, says Davik.
This happens despite the fact that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration itself referred to “Roads open in winter” in March as follows:
