– It is clear that it is a big burden for those who live there. There is a lot of traffic, says the head of transport in Innlandet, Aud M. Riseng. After the Tretten bridge collapsed yesterday, the heavily trafficked E6 through Gudbrandsdalen is closed and all traffic must be sluiced through the city centre. In addition, the local population has to take long detours to get from one side of Lågen to the other. It can be lengthy. – It will clearly take a long time before a new bridge is in place and it is uncertain when E6 can be cleared and opened again, says Riseng. COLLAPSED: Thirteen bridges collapsed over the E6 and it will take time to clear the road. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Knutepunkt The mayor of Øyer, Jon Halvor Midtmageli, was on his way to work on Monday morning and thought there was a traffic accident which meant he had to drive via the center of Tretten. – Then I meet the sight here, which is completely unreal. Yes, that’s simply how you watch movies. He says the situation presents major challenges in traffic locally. – This is in the center of Tretten, so this is the most important thoroughfare we have. There are homes on both sides and several workplaces. So this bridge is used a lot, and especially in the morning and in the afternoon. At the time the bridge collapsed, the traffic was greatest, so there could potentially have been a lot of people on the bridge when it collapsed, says the mayor. Longer school road Inlandstrafikk confirmed on Monday that at least one school bus had just driven over the bridge when it collapsed at 07.30. Now there are many who have a longer journey to school. – We are talking about a 25-minute longer route for the school bus, says Riseng. In addition, school pupils who used to walk over the bridge may be entitled to a school bus now that they have to take other and longer routes to school. Mayor of Øyer, Jon Halvor Midtmageli and head of transport in Innlandet county, Aud M. Riseng at Tretten bridge after it collapsed. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news There has been a lot of logistics and Riseng dare not guarantee that everything will go according to plan today. – But this will happen during the week. Because this change will last until the new bridge is in place, says Aud M. Riseng. RESCUED: The driver of the lorry who was on the bridge when it collapsed is rescued by a rescue man who was hoisted down from a helicopter. Temporary bridge The collapsed bridge crosses the river Lågen and over the E6. The bridge is right at the bottom of the road and closes to all traffic. Now the first priority is to get the E6 cleared and opened for traffic again. Øyer mayor Jon Halvor Midtmageli has been told that they will start removing bridge elements from the road during the afternoon on Tuesday. – Then I hope E6 will be opened as soon as possible so that we avoid the heavy traffic through the center here. CLOSED: Parts of the bridge are still blocking the E6. Photo: Dag Kessel / news For those who depend on speeding back and forth over the bridge in everyday life, it may be appropriate to set up a temporary bridge. – The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has a bridge emergency department that may provide an opportunity to borrow a temporary bridge. It has been there before, says traffic manager Aud M. Riseng.
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