– The market is so uncertain now. Therefore, it is difficult, but absolutely necessary to make such assessments, says CEO of Nye Veier Anette Aanesland. On Monday, the company was informed that the construction of three planned road sections is being postponed, among them the E39 between Mandal and Lyngdal. It has created strong reactions. New Roads justifies the postponement by saying that the sections are too expensive to build now that prices have risen sharply. However, Aanesland will not go into what it would cost to build these road sections. – We do not want to go out with specific figures. This applies to cost development on an entire portfolio, and not on specific projects. We have taken into account what we think may come, she says. Anette Aanesland, CEO of Nye Veier, mentions steel and asphalt as examples of some of the things that have become more expensive. Photo: Victoria Marie Nordahl / NRK – Not acceptable – Postponing the stretch from Mandal to Lyngdal is simply not acceptable. Highway development saves lives. We know that, says Torstein Salvesen. He is the leader of Nullvisjon in Agder, which works with attitude-creating work for all road users. Salvesen believes we can not afford to wait with road construction. – Yes, construction costs have risen, and I fear that the costs will continue to be high. Then it is postponed for one, two, three years. That is not acceptable. People have to settle for using this road between Mandal and Lyngdal for a while longer. Photo: NRK – A real downturn for the business community The general manager of Lister Næringsforening, Hans Fredrik Grøvan, also reacts. – A few weeks ago, we heard the opposite, that they were in the process of announcing the new contracts. This is a real downturn for business. Now he fears the whole project with a continuous highway could be put on ice. He hopes the business community and politicians come together to put massive pressure on the situation, so that the decision is reversed. In the donut shop in Lyngdal, there is also little understanding of the postponement of the road. – Most people probably just shake their heads now and understand as little as I do, says Bjørn Vegge. Bjørn Vegge says that he had been looking forward to driving on the new road. Now it may be a long time before he gets it. Photo: Mathias Hamre / NRK – We only have one money bag Nye Veier is a state-owned company that decides what to prioritize. – New roads have been given the framework New Roads should have, which has been adopted by the Storting. Both the previous and the current government have agreed to this, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Mette Gundersen (Labor). New Roads receives NOK 6 billion every year from the state to build roads, plus the income from tolls. – In the end, we only have one money bag. If we were to add new funds, they would have to be taken from other projects, says Gundersen. She believes Nye Veier has given a good reason why these projects have been postponed. State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Mette Gundersen (Labor Party), believes Nye Veier has a good reason for postponing the projects. Photo: Ministry of Transport and Communications Prioritizes five cheaper projects The other projects affected are the ring road in Kristiansand and the E39 between Bue and Ålgård in Rogaland. These must give way to five other projects, which are now being prioritized. – These are relatively simple projects with few bridges and tunnels, which are elements where the price increase will hit quite sharply. This means that we reduce the risk for the company, says Aanesland. Three of the five projects are sections on the E6: Storhove-Øyer in the Inland Berkåk-Vindåsliene in Trøndelag Sørelva-Borkamo in Nordland In addition, it is planned that two individual projects will be sent to the market in the near future. There is Rv13 in Vestland and E136 from Dombås to Vestnes in Romsdalen. Do not know when When it comes to the exposed road projects, Aanesland emphasizes in Nye Veier that they should be completed, she just can not say when. – These are projects to be built, there must be no doubt about that. But it is difficult to say when this will be. She says they are looking at solutions to keep costs at a level that reduces the risk, and that it may be relevant to divide sections.
ttn-69
Nye Veier postpones road construction due to increased prices – NRK Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
