On Tuesday, the agreements between Forsvarsbygg, Avinor and Bodø municipality regarding the transfer of land from the state to the new airport and new district were signed. Later that day, Avinor broke ground on the new airport. From the government, Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård was represented. – This is a day of joy after many years of close and good cooperation between the parties, and this is the last and most important milestone that ensures the realization of the new district of Hernes, says mayor of Bodø municipality, Ida Pinnerød. Now the airport will be moved a short kilometer to free up space on the Bodø peninsula. But it has been a turbulent ride to get here. The project has been postponed several times, partly because of finances. And the consulting company that was tasked with quality assurance of the alternatives for moving the airport wrote in the report that the project was not economically viable. At the same time, it has also been referred to as the most important strategic issue in Bodø in 100 years. The price tag for the fun is just under NOK 7 billion. In recent years, there have been different opinions about the project. And it is not always easy to understand the arguments for and against. Below you can read about three reasons why moving the airport is a good idea, and three reasons why not: The “New city, new airport” project in Bodø has a price tag of around NOK 7 billion. Photo: Bodø municipality – If you look a little ahead in time, this project will seize an incredibly valuable area for absolutely all future, says architect Erling Søyland. He works at Gnist Arkitekter in Bodø, and is one of those who have become involved in the debate. Among other things, he has written several comments in Avisa Nordland where he believes it is a problematic project. Furthermore, he adds that today there is a long coastal strip on the Bodø peninsula with beautiful beaches, islets and rocky outcrops. This will be blown away and large areas will be filled in the sea to build the new airstrip. – This will cause irreparable damage to this area. I believe that within 100 years, a brand new airport will be built in Bodø that is not located in the city anyway. Two aerial photos that compare the interventions by building a new airport, compared to refurbishing the existing one and erecting new buildings on the south side of the airstrip. Photo: Erling Søyland / Bodø municipality – Climate benefits have been one of the main arguments in the project, but most people are beginning to see that this is no environmental project, says Søyland. According to him, a renovation of the current airport will have a much smaller environmental footprint than building a new one. – In addition, the new development will also be located close to the airstrip, so the noise problems will only increase. The project costs just under NOK 7 billion. The funding is shared between the state, Avinor and Bodø municipality. The state takes a significant part of the bill, providing a total of NOK 3.1 billion. Søyland says that there will be a number of challenges when the county does not want to take such a big share of the cake and the municipality is struggling with budgets. He believes that refurbishing the airport will cost 15 percent of the sum it costs to build a new airport. – In addition, my impression is that the need for land is not as great as was thought 10-15 years ago. At the time, it was predicted that Bodø would have 90,000 inhabitants by 2067, while now it is believed that the figure is closer to 60,000 inhabitants. Then I think it seems like madness to carry out this project with the background of obtaining new land. Architect Erling Søyland believes the project is problematic. Photo: PRIVATE On the other side we have Daniel Bjarmann Simonsen. He is regional director of NHO Nordland and has, among other things, been project manager in “New city, new airport”. And he will immediately move into the role of business and community director in Bodø municipality. – We have a time window now where we have to do something about the airport anyway. And now you have the opportunity to correct a mistake made in the 50s due to time constraints, when the airport was built and the peninsula was split in two, says Simonsen and adds: – Now you can choose the best solution for the development of the city, workplaces and values for several generations to come. Moving the airport will have a price tag of NOK 7 billion. Team Nordic, Koht, BuroHappold, Felixx The move frees up an area of 2,900 acres, roughly the same size as the center of Bodø today. There are plans to build several thousand new homes, commercial buildings and a completely new and environmentally friendly smart city. – One effect of moving the airport is that huge areas are released that can stop the expansion of the city. Then you can get a more compact and sustainable urban development, where we cut emissions and take care of our best topsoil, says Simonsen. – Today we have unacceptable aircraft noise for us who live here, where the approach goes over built-up areas, says Simonsen. Furthermore, he says that the F16 planes are indeed gone, and the noise has been reduced considerably, but Bodø will still be a base for allies and training. – If we move the airstrip, that problem will disappear, and we will have an approach over sea both ways. Daniel Bjarmann-Simonsen believes the project is the best solution for the development of the city. Photo: ØYSTEIN NYGÅRD / news In addition, he mentions that the project will create new jobs. As an example, he says that Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has chosen to establish itself in Bodø to carry out maintenance of the F16. – They do this, among other things, because we will have free infrastructure because of the new airport.
ttn-69
First sod roof at Bodø Airport and the new city new airport project – news Nordland
