To secure a majority for the Stad Ship Tunnel – NRK Vestland

– There is little room for new projects. Unfortunately this applies to the Stad ship tunnel. There is no money for this now, Transport Minister Knut Arild Hareide (KrF) tells Bergens Tidende.

The city’s ship tunnel will cost about 3 billion crowns, will be 1.7 kilometers long, and will be large enough to pass the largest Hurtigruten.

Parliamentary Representative Jon Georg Dale (Frp) told NRK early Friday that he expects investment decisions from the government.

He promised that the FRP would secure a majority in the Storting for the start of construction. Now your votes can matter when the state budget is going to be considered.

– In next week’s budget proposal, the government can start the tunnel construction on their own, if not, we will help them when the matter reaches the Storting. The shovel must be on the ground, the dynamite salve must be on the rock, Dale said.

Paid 21 times – received harsh criticism

But therefore, the government has not prioritized the large coastal project in the state budget, which was formally presented on October 7.

For several generations, sailors have fought for the ship tunnel.

The tunnel will cause ships to avoid the Stadhavet. The open, weather-resistant stretch of sea is considered one of the most dangerous in the country.

Up to 21 government exams have been conducted. Number 22 of the “preliminary draft external quality assurance” is well advanced.

But the tunnel has also been criticized for not being profitable from a socio-economic point of view.

In 2018, the government received a report from a consultant warning that each step of a ship would cost society 26,000 crowns over 40 years.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration was critical of the calculations and later cut costs.

– Embarrassed and cursed

At Nordfjord, people have been waiting for generations. Reactions in Vestland County are many and strong.

The mayor of Stad, Alfred Bjørlo (V), demanded that his own government comply and thought it would be unthinkable if the money did not arrive.

– Quickly summarize, I’m embarrassed and angry, he tells BT on Friday afternoon.

– This is a very important transport project for the whole of western Norway and after countless rounds we were hoping the wait was finally over, says a clearly disappointed county leader in Sogn og Fjordane Unge Høgre, Elias Eide.

– But we know that there will be negotiations at the Storting, and I hope and believe that the ship tunnel will get a concrete start permit.

Caused

The Stad Ship Tunnel steering group is shocked and causes the government not to start construction of the Stad Ship Tunnel in next year’s state budget.

– We think it is incomprehensible that the government did not find NOK 60 million for the only major investment project within shipping, the steering group writes.

Bjørn Lødemel was a Parliamentary representative of the Conservatives and fought for the ship tunnel in the National Transportation Plan.

– This is tingling from the government. A breach of promise, says Lødemel, who is today the daily leader of Sogn og Fjordane Næringsråd.

Vestland fears that with a little if not the tunnel will come

Vestland County Mayor Jon Askeland (Sp) told NRK on Friday that it is the last chance for today’s Storting to embrace the ship tunnel.

– The ship’s tunnel has already been completed, so the delivery just has to arrive, he says.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Knut Arild Hareide (KrF), has reduced expectations about the pace of investments in transport in recent weeks.

This made the county mayor feel insecure and he had a reason for it.