The plan for a new and winter-proof tunnel between Seljestad and Røldal on the E134 in Ullensvang has been part of the National Transport Plan (NTP) for a number of years. The tunnel will save cars and heavy transport from steep climbs on both the east and west sides of Røldalsfjellet, as well as the narrow and condensation-prone Røldals tunnel (4.6 km) at the very top. But when the state budget for 2023 was presented in autumn 2022, the government decided to put the project on hold due to the financial situation. The postponement was met with strong reactions, not least from the heavy transport industry, which has long demanded such a tunnel. – Very important tunnel Now, two weeks before the election, the government has turned around. On Tuesday afternoon, Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) was able to say that the government is now promising money for the project, which the Swedish Road Administration had in its top four priority projects for construction to start in 2023. – This is a very important tunnel because here there are challenges with accessibility, and heavy transport is often stuck, says Nygård to news. Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård has promised money for two tunnels on the E134 in two days. Photo: Bård Siem / news The announcement, which took place at a press conference on the west side of the old Røldal tunnel, comes the day after the government announced that they are allocating money for the new Oslofjord tunnel in the state budget. This tunnel is also on the E134. – It is, after all, part of the commitment to east-west connections. This is a very important project in this region, and it means that we plan to start it in the state budget, which we will then present in October, says Nygård. The county mayor was moved The county mayor in Vestland, Jon Askeland (Sp), says he is so happy and grateful that he was almost moved by the transport minister’s promise. – This has been such an important issue for us here in Western Norway for a long time. Linking Eastern Norway and Western Norway together is very important, and this tunnel means a lot for Haugalandet, Sunnhordland, Hardanger and the Bergen area, says Askeland. The E134 over Haukeli is one of the four major mountain crossings between east and west, and by far the most important for Haugalandet and the southern part of Vestland. The 13-kilometre-long Røldal tunnel will shorten the journey time by seven kilometers and twelve minutes, but even more importantly, heavy transport in particular avoids the steep climb up to Røldalsfjellet between Røldal and Seljestad. The new tunnel will remove around 1,000 meters of height up and down. – It’s fair to say in an election situation Minister of the Environment and Culture Nygård does not hide that the timing is not completely coincidental. – Now that we have decided that we will start this in the coming state budget, I think it is both fair and right that we tell the voters about it now that we are in an election situation, says Nygård.
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The government is turning the corner – opening the door for a 13 kilometer long tunnel on the E134 – news Vestland
