The matter in summary: • The road company Nye Veier wants to build a four-lane motorway on the E18 between Telemark and Sørlandet.• This is despite the fact that the government has opened the way for two or three-lane roads to be built in order to spare nature.• Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård is satisfied with the solution and believes that Nye Veier is not defying the government.• Nye Veier has been able to reuse much of the existing road due to new road standards, but has had to lower the speed limit to 100 kilometers per hour.• There are divided opinions about the decision, with some politicians who believe that more should be invested in public transport and train projects. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The government has made it possible to build two- or three-lane roads with traffic of up to 15,000 cars a day (ÅDT) in order to spare nature. The road company Nye Veier has nevertheless decided to build four lanes on the entire remaining stretch between Bamble and Grimstad. This despite the fact that in recent years the traffic has been around 10,000 cars a day between Gjerstad and Kragerø, figures from the National Road Data Bank show. The traffic forecasts on which Nye Veier is based show that in 2060 there will be around 14,000 cars a day between Tvedestrand and Gjerstad. Satisfied with the solution Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) believes it is not correct to claim that Nye Veier is defying the government. Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) is Minister of Transport. Photo: KSENIA NOVIKOVA / news He says that the company has been the driving force behind changes in road standards. – I am satisfied with how the company follows up on the government’s wishes to choose solutions that reduce interventions, emissions and costs without compromising safety. In the case of the stretch E18 Kragerø-Bamble, Nye Veier has, as a result of new road standards, been able to reuse much of the existing road. In order to achieve this, they have had to lower the speed limit to 100 kilometers per hour, instead of the originally planned 110 kilometers per hour, he says. Transport policy spokesperson for SV Mona Fagerås has previously told news that Nye veier should be instructed to build narrower E18 where possible. Four lanes between Telemark and Agder? YES! I’m tired of queuing. 🚗🚙🚐🚗 No, we have to take care of our nature🌍 I don’t care. Do what they want🤷♀️🤷♂️ Show result Have your say at the bottom of the case. Reusing existing roads Due to the new road standards, builders can reuse existing roads to a greater extent, says the transport minister. – We save both topsoil and nature, and reduce emissions of particulate matter and microplastics by allowing new motorways to have a slightly lower speed limit and be adapted to the terrain. Nygård says that it will still be possible to build new four-lane motorways with 110 km/h, for example where it is not relevant to reuse an existing road and there is a need for a lot of tunnels. – This means that Nye Veier, even with new road standards, is planning for a four-lane road. When road projects are planned, an estimate is made of how much traffic the stretch of road will have per day 20 years from now. The planning must also take into account the current traffic picture, the proportion of heavy vehicles and make an estimate for traffic growth in the coming years, adds the transport minister. Divided opinions In the Green Party, we were happy when the government put forward a new, reasonable and modern road standard, says party leader Arild Hermstad. It saves both money, nature and emissions, and increases the benefit to society, he believes. Arild Hermstad, party leader in the Green Party. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – Nygård’s u-turn is therefore disappointing. It is not possible to build your way out of queuing problems. Hermstad needs more investment in public transport and train projects such as the Grenlandsbanen, instead of more oversized motorways, he says. The Progress Party’s Bård Hoksrud has previously stated to news that he is happy with Nye Veier’s plans, and believes that they look forward, and not backwards. Fagerås in SV believes that it will be easier to choose a private car as a means of transport by building a four-lane road. – We know that it leads to greenhouse gas emissions and the degradation of topsoil and vulnerable nature, she has previously said. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 07.08.2024, at 20.29
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Nye Veier gets to build four lanes in Telemark and Agder – the government does not intervene – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
