Surrounded by sea and wild nature, you will find the Atlanterhavsveien on Nordmøre. The 8.3-kilometer stretch that has been voted the world’s finest road by the British newspaper The Guardian, and in 2012 became a national tourist road. In 2019, the road received even greater attention when the filming of the James Bond film took place. But the number of visitors also means that more people fear serious accidents. – Traffic safety is miserable. Hopeless actually, says bus driver Bjørn Kåre Eide. Bus driver Bjørn Kåre Eide is calling for a proper bus stop at Atlanterhavsveien. Photo: Tore Lyngvær / news – A sheep’s slip He travels up to several times a day over the Atlantic Road and has experienced several unpleasant situations on the road. – At times it feels unsafe, but if you take it easy it goes mostly well, says Eide. The bus driver says that tourist traffic has picked up considerably in recent years. Often you also see people crossing the road, even if the cars are moving. – It’s a sheeple, quite simply, he says and laughs. For the bus drivers, the most important thing is that there is a proper bus stop at the cafe on one island, he says and continues: – At least then we can let people off and on in a safe way, says Eide. In 2014, Svevestien came to Eldhusøya, which has become very popular to visit. Photo: Tore Lyngvær / news – Not prepared – Professional drivers in particular feel scared when they drive over there, because the activity is so great, says Geir Jonny Hjertvik, technical consultant at Tungbilkonsulenten. In 2016, a national cycle route was opened, the “Atlanterhavsruta”, which passes the Atlanterhavsveien. But Hjertvik believes that there are no facilities for either pedestrians or cyclists. – In the main, I miss footpaths and cycleways, so we can ensure that those who travel and want to use them can feel safe. Also to make the road more attractive for visitors. Geir Jonny Hjertvik is calling for pedestrian and cycle lanes on the national tourist route. Photo: Tore Lyngvær / news Ten years ago there was also demand, but to no avail. Hjertvik does not think it is a matter of course that traffic safety is not developed when the number of visitors increases. – I fear serious accidents. We would prefer to avoid human lives being lost here on the Atlantic Road, says Hjertvik. Tourist also not impressed Eivind Haug from Asker has been on a camping holiday in Norway this summer, and like many others he also chose to see the Atlantic Ocean. Tourist on the Atlanterhavsveien, Eivind Haug, believes that something should be done about traffic safety. Photo: Tore Lyngvær / news In the short time he has been here, he is not impressed by traffic safety. – It’s probably not the best. I imagine what it’s like here in the summer, with heavy traffic; lots of cars and people crossing the road. It doesn’t feel safe. Something should probably be done, says Haug. If not prioritized Kristin Sørheim (Sp), leader of the transport committee in Møre og Romsdal, says they are fully aware of the problem at the Atlanterhavsveien, but that they cannot prioritize improving traffic safety at the national tourist road. – With the limited resources we have at our disposal in the county council, we must prioritize traffic safety on, among other things, school roads. – It is an enormously expensive and unaffordable project in the next few years to prioritize this road Photo: Trond Vestre / news She says that it is not on their list to improve the pedestrian and cycle path by the Atlanterhavsveien in the coming decades. – We have to encourage tourists and drivers to use their heads as much as possible. When it comes to the increase in tourist traffic, Sørheim points out that the Trollstigen is also experiencing it, and that there is an enormous challenge and uncertainty when it comes to the risk of landslides. – We have to take what is most serious first, says Sørheim.
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Tourists flock to the national tourist route
