According to what news learns, Nye Veier has spent 1.1 billion on planning a new road from Moelv to Øyer. This includes planning work, regulation and acquisition of land. But the figure is in practice much higher. The Norwegian Road Administration, the municipality and the State Administration have also spent large sums on planning. The Norwegian Environment Agency said no Just before Christmas, the Norwegian Environment Agency said no to building a new bridge through the Lågendelta Nature Reserve near Lillehammer. The only people who can change the decision are the government. If they want. There is little evidence of that. YEARS OF WORK: Mayor Ingunn Trosholmen (Ap) in Lillehammer is despondent and dejected. For more than 10 years, the city has been planning the new E6. Millions have been spent on working hours, meetings and consultants. Everything indicates that the project is now stalling. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Even mayor Ingunn Trosholmen (Ap) in Lillehammer put everything into getting the decision reversed. But many meetings with party colleagues in the Storting and the government do not seem to be useful so far. No alternative The Storting has approved the construction of the new E6 through the interior all the way to Otta. To reduce accidents and ensure good conditions for transport and cars. So far, Nye Veier has completed 43 kilometers from just south of Hamar to Moelv. Construction to the north was supposed to start this year. But now it’s stopped. It has been in the plans since 2018 for the road to go through a tunnel on the west side of Lillehammer, and then cross Lågen in a nature conservation area. Lågendeltaet nature reserve The purpose of the conservation, according to the legal text, is to “preserve an important and special wetland area in its natural state with vegetation and wildlife, and to protect a particularly rich and interesting bird life, especially for the sake of migrating, nesting and wintering waterfowl.” There are a number of provisions for the area. Among other things, all vegetation in water and on land is protected against any form of damage and destruction. It is not allowed to introduce new plant species. Hunting, trapping, the use of firearms and the release of dogs is prohibited. Furthermore, it states that “measures that could change the natural conditions” must not be taken. This means, among other things, that it is not permitted to erect buildings or roads. North of the Vingnesbrua, motorized traffic by water and by land is prohibited. In the period from 15 April to 14 May, all traffic on water and shallow areas in parts of the delta is prohibited. The area was designated as a nature reserve by Crown Prince Reg.res. of 12 October 1990. The State Administrator in the Interior agreed to dispensation from protection last autumn. But the Nature Conservancy and the local action group Lågendelta’s Friends complained – and they were heard. – Here we do not see a single reason to grant a dispensation, says director Ellen Hambro of the Norwegian Environment Agency. FULL STOP: – The nature reserve was created to take care of vulnerable nature, says director Ellen Hambro of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Photo: Christopher Isachsen Sandøy / news Hambro points out that the project has a negative societal interest of NOK 5.6 billion. So there is no reason to protect for societal reasons. A shock The decision came as a shock to Lillehammer municipality and the developer Nye Veier. Years of planning, engineering, meetings and visual experiences were suddenly wasted. Since the zoning plan was adopted in 2018, none of them have operated with any alternative to a route past the city. – Now we have to plan all over again, says development director Espen Almås in Nye Veier. FEAR LONG DELAY: Development director Espen Almlid fears that the entire E6 project in the interior will be put on hold. Photo: Nye Veier Norway must protect nature Lars Haltbrekken in SV has become involved in the protection of the Lågen delta. He believes the decision by the Norwegian Environment Agency should not come as a shock to anyone. ON SIGHT EXPERIENCE: Lars Haltbrekken and Mona Fagerås from SV were on a sight experience in Lågendelta last autumn. Haltbrekken believes that transport policy has changed now. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news At least on Nye Veier, which he believes should have clarified this, before they spent so much time and money on the bridge through the nature reserve. Haltbrekken makes no secret of the fact that the E6 decision heralds a change in policy – which SV has pressed hard for. – This is a victory for nature. We can never again build a road through nature conservation areas. The brakes at Espen Almås in Nye Veier say they will now assess whether they could do more to clarify the attitude of the conservation authorities earlier. – But it would have been difficult for us to apply for something concrete before we had finished all the plans before Christmas. Immediately after the decision, he said that the entire project was in jeopardy. Now he’s on a bit of a roll. But – he makes no secret of the fact that the changes in plans past Lillehammer could slow down the construction of the rest of the road. The stretches north and south of the city are closely connected with what is now stopped. However, the Ministry of Transport or the Ministry of Climate and Environment will change the decision. Then they have to change the protection regulations. – I would like to remind you that, in its assessments, the Norwegian Environment Agency says that it is not permissible to grant a dispensation as the project stands now, says Aleksander Heen (Sp) in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. He says nothing about changing the protection regulations. NO ROOM FOR CHANGE: State Secretary Aleksander Heen (Sp) in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment does not see that it is possible to change the decision from the Norwegian Environment Agency. Photo: Britt Jorun Svanes / news Standing without a route In the Ministry of Transport, Tom Kalsås (Ap) says that he has had good and useful meetings with the mayor and Nye Veier. But that the matter is still under consideration, and that they must agree with the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. He promises nothing. – No one disagrees that a new road should be built from Mjøsbrua and past Lillehammer. The Storting’s decision is firm, says Kalsås. And that Nye Veier is responsible for expanding. But he points out that they cannot start construction until they have received an approved route. And right now it doesn’t exist. IT WILL BE A ROAD: Tom Kalsås (Ap), state secretary in the Ministry of Transport, says a road must be built. But right now there is no route. Photo: Ingvald Nordmark The one who has no doubts about what he would do is Ketil Solvik-Olsen (Frp). He was transport minister for 5 years, from 2013 to 2018. He is strongly critical of one party being able to stop the entire progress of a road plan that has come this far. In 2013, he received a similar case on the table in Åkersvika south of Hamar. – Disagreements between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Climate and Environment meant that the matter remained unresolved for many years. But we found a solution and there was a new E6. Solvik-Olsen believes that political governance and will are needed, bureaucrats in a directorate cannot decide. He strongly doubts whether there will be anything out of the way at all with today’s government. – There are many in the red-green government who do not want to invest in road development. DRIVE ON: Former transport minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen (Frp), says the government can build the road through Lågendelta. If they want to! Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Reduce the speed Lars Haltbrekken tells news that SV has argued for reducing the speed and dimensions of new, planned roads. Now the government has a proposal out for consultation to change the road standards in new and existing road projects. Speed limits may be lower and roads narrower than previously thought, in several places in the country. WANT TO START CONSTRUCTION: Bengt Fasteraune, Sp representative for Innlandet, asks Nye Veier to start construction of the road from Mjøsbrua to Lillehammer. Photo: Geir Olav Slåen / news Noko Bengt Fasteraune, Sp representative for Innlandet in the Storting, also thinks it is good. He thinks that several roads can be built or extended with a view to 90 km/ten instead of getting a 110 km limit. For example past Lillehammer.
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1.5 billion can be used without benefit – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
