Since the 1820s, Hans Gude and countless artists have painted the nationally romantic Esefjord at Balestrand in Sogn. German Emperor German Emperor Wilhelm II holidayed in Balestrand 14 times at the end of the 19th century – and the beginning of the 20th century. Ever since the 1960s, there has been work on realizing the bridge, which will remove the risk of landslides and reduce travel time around the steep fjord. But a planned bridge is now causing arguments, both between villagers and not least between employees of Vestland County Municipality. THE IMPERIAL SHIP: German Emperor Wilhelm II visited artists in Balestrand a lot when he visited the village with the ship Hohenzollern 14 times at the end of the 19th century – and the beginning of the 20th century. A safer and less dangerous road faces the iconic view of the fjord. The various wings in Vestland county disagree about where the bridge should be located. While the road bureaucrats want a bridge that is as functional as possible and that cuts down on travel time, the cultural bureaucrats have focused on cultural heritage, cultural landscape and line of sight for painters. Thus, artists from far and near can also go to Balestrand in the future to immortalize the Esefjord. THIS IS HOW: In March, the county director of Vestland County Municipality saw such a bridge as the best solution for crossing the Esefjorden on the former 55. Now he has changed his mind and wants to move the bridge further into the fjord. Photo: Vestland county council – “Untidy” and “incomprehensible” In March this year, the county director supported the road bureaucrats. Now the employees of the culture department have gained such strong influence that the county director has put down opposition to his own proposal from March this year. – I have never come across anything like this, says Sogndal mayor Arnstein Menes (Sp). He characterizes the proceedings as “untidy”, “messy” and “incomprehensible”. The mayor wants the bridge in place as soon as possible, but now fears that time will pass. – We are seen in a difficult situation, he says. The case will go up for political consideration in the county committee in Vestland on Thursday. – I expect the politicians to support what the county director sends to us in March, says Menes. The mayor points out that the original solution will both be cheaper, lead to less filling in the fjord and shorten the journey time as much as possible. CRITICAL: Mayor Arnstein Menes (Sp) in Sogndal is strongly critical of the fact that the county director has filed a counter to his own advice. Photo: Maria Gunnarsdotter Svedal / news Take self-criticism County director in Vestland, Rune Haugsdal, understands the criticism from Menes. – Seen from the outside, I understand that questions are being asked that we are not in agreement with ourselves, he says. At the same time, Haugsdal points to his two professional communities, the roads department and the culture department, and that it is important that their arguments come to light. Now the county director believes that the bridge location will be in “conflict with significant regional and national cultural environment interests”. It will have a major negative impact on the cultural landscape and will become a “barrier that closes off the fjord landscape and ruins sight lines in the area”. – Can we expect that in the future it will become common for the county director to think two very different things in the same case almost at the same time? – No, this will not become common practice. This is a situation that will not repeat itself and that we do not want to be in. TRAVEL TIME: The planned bridge over the Esefjord will lead to significantly shorter travel times for motorists. Photo: Kjell Arvid Stølen / news Critical county politicians Marthe Hammer (SV) says that she has never before experienced this type of case processing, where the county director objects to her own advice. – The county director’s procedure is both surprising and difficult to get hold of, she says. Hammer says that so far she has not decided which alternative she wants to support, but that she will probably support the original recommendation. The Center Party believes it is “unfortunate” that the county director comes up with objections after the case has been put out for consultation. – Therefore, we want to go through politics and say no to objections. Here, there are weighty societal interests that must take precedence over the cultural environment. We need a safe and race-free road, says Aleksander æra Heen (Sp). It belongs to history that it is the National Antiquities Authority that has the last word in the matter. The bridge will be 675 meters long and is estimated to cost NOK 800 million. The price will be significantly higher if she has to be moved further into the fjord. ESEFJORDEN: “Norwegische Landshaft” by Hans Christian Gude was sold in 2021 for NOK 4.1 million at auction at Blomqvist art dealer in Oslo. Gude (1825–1903) painted the Esefjorden in 1848. Now a planned bridge in the area is creating uproar. Photo: Blomqvist auction house
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Vestland county has two answers about the bridge over the Esefjord – news Vestland
