– I really like traveling by ferry. It is relaxing, and there is often time to take a break. We are in the middle of the fjord between Vestnes and Molde. And the ferry keeps a steady course. Roger Graber and his wife Inga have sat down at one of the many tables in the ferry lounge. For those who are on a trip, this is the fastest route. And on the ferry, you will often have time to take a breather. – If someone has been driving for a long time, for example, you can actually relax a bit when you get on the ferry. Maybe have a cup of coffee, and wake up a bit again. Traveling by ferry is relaxing, say Roger and Inga Graber. Photo: Trond Vestre / news A major obstacle The ferries connect our coast from north to south. If you are going to travel, go to work or transport goods to the market, you often depend on the ferry. But for some, the ferries are a big obstacle. Not least for those who run factories and industry on the islands. Optimism is high at Vikenco in Aukra in Møre og Romsdal. In recent years, they have invested around one billion kroner. But ferries and fjords are a brake on the fishing industry, which is based on an island out in the sea gap. The director wants to replace the ferries with a mainland connection that will connect two island communities with Molde and Vestnes. There is a lot at stake, says Per Olav Mevold. – It is alpha and omega for us. This is the future for Møre and Romsdal. If we are to be a center of gravity within the marine industry, we must have this in place. For Vikenco, it is very important. Shorter transport times mean fewer costs. Managing director of Vikenco, Per Olav Mevold, believes that it is urgent to build the Møreaksen fjord crossing link. Photo: Trond Vestre / news A ferry-free E39 The vision of a ferry-free E39 was born almost 15 years ago. The Vestlandsrådet then gathered around a demand for construction. Several of the road projects were successively included in the National Transport Plan. Work on Rogfast north of Stavanger is underway. Next in line would be Hordfast south of Bergen and Møreaksen across the Romsdalsfjord. The Solberg government wanted the two projects. Construction was supposed to start now. Those who fight for these road projects believe they will have a great effect on society. The transport of goods is faster. And it will be easier to obtain labour. But it will cost tens of billions of kroner. And the fight for the money is fierce. Now the question is what fate they get in the national transport plan. – I don’t dare come up with any stable tips, says head of department at the Institute of Transport Economics, Kjell Werner Johansen. Tough priorities He has followed Norwegian transport policy for many years. He knows that it is about tough priorities. The Minister of Transport has called the current transport plan unrealistic. So it can get crowded. If you want to bet on something that costs a lot of money, it will come at the expense of something else. For Hordfast and Møreaksen, this may mean that they are pushed into the unknown. – Either one or both of them will be prioritized early in the next period, or they will be mentioned in the plan in a way that means they will not get a place until the second part of the period. But I think it is far too late to shelve them completely. Head of department Kjell Werner Johansen in the Institute of Transport Economics is excited about what the government will propose in the National Transport Plan (NTP). Photo: news But both Hordfast and Møreaksen are controversial and face opposition. There are various reasons for that. An important reason is the fight for money. Those who fight for their roads fear an abrupt halt if the major fjord crossing projects are given priority. Roads between the fjords And Jan Ove Halsøy in the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association thinks it is completely wrong to prioritize these. He would rather focus on building roads between the fjords. – The signal is that the national transport plan is being reduced. Then I think it is the right priority to secure the weekday routes between the fjords. There will be less money for these if we are to invest in the big projects. It’s in the cards. Jan Ove Halsøy of the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association has no doubts about what he thinks the government should focus on. Photo: Brynjar / news Life goes on as usual on the ferry between Molde and Vestnes. Torstein Engeland and Øystein Aabrekk from Nordfjordeid are on tour. And there’s nothing like eating sausages on the ferry. The ferry is perfectly fine for the two guys. Bridges and tunnels instead of ferries aren’t too bad either. But when they are asked to choose, the answer is clear. – If I had to choose, I would rather have a good road with a ferry, even if it would then take a little longer. Torstein Engeland and Øystein Aabrekk relax on the ferry between Vestnes and Molde. Photo: Trond Vestre / news But he who has invested in slaughtering and processing fish on an island facing the sea gap in Møre og Romsdal, has no time to wait. Per Olav Mevold will start construction of Møreaksen no. – It is clear that it is urgent. The development period is ten years. We hope that we can see the contours of this road around 2030.
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Ferry-free E39 may be downgraded in the National Transport Plan – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
