– What is particularly serious is the lack of plans to improve the road in the long term. That’s what Eivind Hansen, who is managing director of Helse Bergen, says. Together with police chief Kaare Songstad in the West police district and Christoffer Th. Knutsen, district manager of the Home Guard, he meets news to stand in a united front for a better main road between east and west. The road is prone to landslides and accidents and was previously voted “Norway’s worst road” by news’s audience. ONE TON: Last autumn, a one-tonne rock came crashing down on the E16 near Bolstadøyri. Photo: Emil Solbakken / Statens vegvesen Plans to upgrade both the road and the railway are ready, but in the state budget for 2022 the government put the brakes on. – We see the need for that road to be significantly upgraded. It simply depends on the preparedness here in Western Norway, says Knutsen. The three sit together on the emergency council for the county. They had a meeting last week. There was E16 theme. Closure and risk of landslides Even as the road is today, it is a safety hazard, believes Songstad. – We have challenges now. There is a lot of maintenance and closures due to flooding and landslides. From a preparedness perspective, it is important to show that something must be done about this road. At the latest last weekend, the E16 was closed between Bergen and Voss. – We must ensure that E16 is open as often and for as long as possible. This is important for all emergency services, and for us in health, says Eivind Hansen. Even though there are hospitals on both sides of the road, he believes that it is absolutely necessary to be able to move patients between the hospitals in Bergen and Voss. – We already see that emergency vehicles are often braked or stopped on this road. It is worrying, says Hansen, who adds that he is also worried about accidents and landslides on the road. PARALLEL: The road and railway will mostly run side by side in the mountains through Vaksdal. Illustration: Red Ant / Statens vegvesen Political debate Even if they now go against the government’s proposal for the national budget, the leaders of the public bodies are not afraid of being perceived as politicians. – The politicians must set their priorities. But our job as emergency response actors is to point out what is problematic for emergency response, says Hansen. HEALTH DIRECTOR: Eivind Hansen in Health Bergen believes that the road must be improved. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB Nor does police chief Songstad fear for independence. – We are forced to think about the whole and point out that a further laying out of new roads east from Bergen is problematic for emergency preparedness. – But aren’t you afraid of the police being seen as a political actor? – I think the most important thing is that we as emergency responders are allowed to have a voice in this. We must be allowed to say what we think are the challenges from a professional perspective, says Songstad. The actors in the county preparedness council will probably promote a joint statement in which they address the situation on the main road east of Bergen. POLICE CHIEF: Kaare Songstad in the West police district throws himself into the debate about E16. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB – The most important thing now is to keep the rent down news has asked Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) for a new comment following the criticism from Health Bergen, the Home Guard and the police, but has so far not received a reply. When the many transport cuts in the state budget were presented, he said this to news: – To those who are disappointed, I say that it is understandable. But I am sure that the vast majority of people understand that it is important that we take care of our finances. There is war in Europe and an energy crisis. The most important thing now is to keep interest rates down and deliver a budget that helps to curb price inflation, said Nygård.
ttn-69
Politmeister, hospital director and Heimevern chief against the government’s cut of E16 – news Vestland
