Gudbrandsdalslågen has become a thoroughfare after the Tretten bridge collapsed on 15 August. Some people have found it necessary to use a boat to get there while waiting for a new bridge. – For the time being, I solve it in a creative way to save time and to avoid the danger of driving the bypass, says Eivind Buhaug. But creativity is also characterized by great impatience for both Buhaug and the villagers. He is not particularly impressed by the news that a temporary bridge will not be in place before the turn of the year. – People are tired and irritated and we don’t feel that we are taken seriously. ROUTE: Tretten bridge was the natural connection between the east and west sides of Tretten. By boat across Gudbrandsdalslågen, you save about 15 minutes each way compared to driving via Øyer. Graphics: Aleksandr Nedbaev Designing a temporary bridge takes time Shortly after the bridge collapse, discussions about a new bridge began. Innlandet county council already said in September that they hoped to have a replacement bridge in place within a few months. But the money to pay for it all was missing. The county council hoped that the state would join the splicing team to pay the bill of around NOK 50 million. DIVIDED IN TWO: Both the Tretten bridge and the local community are divided after the bridge collapse on 15 August. The approximately 900 inhabitants of the settlement have to drive via Øyer to get to the other side. Photo: Frode Meskau / news The message came on Tuesday that the work on the temporary bridge is taking longer than expected because permits must be obtained to work in the river. – The temporary bridge will come in 2023. We must be ready by spring, but it will take some time, says Arne Fredheim, head of the road section in the county municipality in Innlandet. He points out that it is important for the county municipality to plan a good bridge. Among other things, the focus is on a new bridge to withstand heavy transport in both directions. – I understand well that there is frustration at Tretten, but the most important thing for us is to build a bridge that stands safely, says Fredheim. This has happened after the bridge collapse The truss bridge built in 2012 collapsed just after 07.00. Two vehicles were stuck on the bridge, a truck and a car. While the woman in the car managed to get off the bridge on her own, the driver of the lorry had to be lifted out by rescue helicopter. Both emerged from the incident unharmed. As the Tretten bridge crossed the E6 through Gudbrandsdalen, the European road was closed with immediate effect after the accident. The road was closed until 26 August, when the road had been cleared of bridge debris. The Swedish Road Administration decided the day after the bridge collapse to close 14 wooden truss bridges around the country. The reason was that they feared for the safety of the bridges, which are built in the same way as Tretten bru. After the closure of 14 wooden bridges, there was chaos in several places. The principal at a primary school in Kongsvinger reacted strongly to what he believed to be an unjustified detour along the school road to his pupils. A farmer in Åsnes was given a long detour when he had to deliver his grain and threatened with civil disobedience if the bridge was not reopened. In the aftermath of the bridge collapse, intensive work was done to remove the remains of the bridge. Finally, the truck stuck during the collapse was removed. Huge trucks had to go out on the edge when they met on the narrow bypass road to Tretten in Gudbrandsdalen. In the end, the asphalt edges disintegrated. The Moumbekken bridge in Fredrikstad is the first bridge to be reopened after the Norwegian Public Roads Administration closed several wooden bridges. The county committee in Innlandet county municipality decided to continue working with the plans for a temporary and a new permanent bridge. Show more Great frustration at Tretten Both Tretten bridge and 14 other wooden truss bridges were closed after the incident. Since then, the local community has been without a bridge connection. – There is a crisis for the Trettensamfunnet. With each passing day it gets worse. I understand very well that they are frustrated, says Øyer mayor Jon Halvor Midtmageli (Sp). FAST AND SAFE: Buhaug saves 30 minutes every day by taking the boat compared to driving the extra 22 kilometers via the bridge in Øyer. Photo: Stig Westre / news For many, the detour around Øyer means 22 kilometers of extra driving. Buhaug saves 30 minutes on taking the boat. In addition, he avoids the narrow detours. – The vast majority are disappointed. Many question why the bureaucracy takes so long. That is what we struggle to understand. He does not hold back on the criticism and believes that the politicians must pick up the pace to establish a connection between the east and west sides of Tretten.
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Construction of a temporary bridge at Tretten after the bridge collapse is delayed – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
