Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) released the news on the footbridge over Rv. 134 in Frogn on Monday. On Monday, he told the news to a number of local politicians from the Labor Party and the Center Party from both sides of the fjord. A few hundred meters further west, the road plunges under the Oslofjord and comes out again in Asker on the opposite side. Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård is allocating money for the Oslofjord tunnel. Photo: Olav Juven / news Fires and accidents Fires, accidents and frequent closures have ridden the tunnel like a mare for years. NHO, the trucking industry and the municipalities on both sides of the fjord have long fought to get a second race in place. For business in large parts of southern Norway, Rv. 134 the main road to Sweden and the rest of Europe. The one tunnel under the fjord is constantly closed, to the great frustration of the business community and other motorists Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news They are frustrated that constant closures mean that they have to drive around already congested roads through Oslo instead. Highest priority Hope was sparked when the Norwegian Public Roads Administration put the Oslofjord tunnel at the very top of its list of which road projects they wanted to prioritize last spring. Four projects are considered ready to go. This means that only the green light from the Storting is needed before the Swedish Road Administration can call out tenders and get started: The disappointment was therefore great when none of them got a place in this year’s budget. One of the reasons was the war in Ukraine. In May this year, the Swedish Road Administration presented this year’s wish list with the same roads in the top four. Budget leaks in the election campaign And in the middle of the local election campaign, hope for several of them is lost. Two weeks ago, Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum was in Nordland and promised billions for the new E6. On Monday, Jon-Ivar Nygård did the same for the new Oslofjord tunnel. E134 Oslofjord connection 1996: The Storting adopts Rv.23 Oslofjord connection (E134 from 2008). A prerequisite is that the stretch must be developed in line with traffic developments. 2000: The tunnel opens. 2011: The discussion about construction stage two starts in earnest after a fire in a wagon train with paper in June. 34 people are trapped in thick smoke inside the tunnel, but all escape the drama without serious injuries. 2014: A report from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration recommends a bridge over the fjord via Håøya rather than a new tunnel run. 2017: The Storting signals that a new tunnel is preferable in the National Transport Plan 2018 – 2029. Very high costs for bridges are an important argument. 2018: Transport Minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen asks the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to start the work. Several organizations are complaining to EFTA’s monitoring body ESA because new tunnels steeper than 5% slope are in breach of EU rules. The Oslofjord tunnel is 7%. 2019: ESA rejects the complaint because the project is defined as an extension of the current tunnel and not a new one. 2022: The Norwegian Road Administration puts the Oslofjord connection at the very top of its priority list and Norwegian road projects. 2023: Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård promises money for the tunnel in the state budget for 2024.
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The government promises money for the E134 Oslofjord tunnel in the state budget – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
