news recently wrote about a staff shortage at Torghatten Nord. This has resulted in more than 200 departures being canceled on three sections in the northern county. Something that has had a major impact on the only ferry link along the E6, the section between Bognes and Skarberget The situation has caused NHO to once again bring up the debate about the ferry-free E6. Norway is divided in two The ferry route between Bognes and Skarberget links, among other things, Bodø and Fauske to Narvik. – This is the only road we have that ties the region together. – When we have personnel shortages like now, bad weather or technical problems, Norway is divided in two. It is something we do not accept anywhere else in the country. That’s what director of NHO Nordland, Daniel Bjarmann-Simonsen, says. Daniel Bjarmann-Simonsen believes it is again time to look at the possibilities for ferry-free E6. Photo: Allan Klo / news In 2012, a concept selection investigation (KVU) was carried out where the possibilities of connecting E6 were examined. The investigation was carried out by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration on behalf of the Ministry of Transport. The result of a concept selection investigation from 2012: It will cost NOK 7.8 billion to build an undersea tunnel from Bogenes to Skarberget. Three routes for the bridge were also investigated, these at NOK 11.7 billion each. The Swedish Road Administration, on the other hand, ranked the solution with 24-hour ferry operation (36 departures a day) as the best solution. Investments of NOK 4.4 billion were outlined there with the current ferry connection Bognes – Skarberget, and NOK 4.7 billion with the shortened connection. Since the investigation in 2012, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has invested NOK 300 million in making all four ferry berths (Bognes, Skarberget, Drag, Kjøpsvik) ready to receive and operate electric ferries. The alternative is Sweden – The alternative when you don’t have a ferry is to drive via another country, i.e. Sweden. We can take the example of the bridge that went up in smoke in Troms. Then there was a furore, and with good reason, says the director. – How realistic is such a project? – An investigation will have to show that. This has been discussed and various solutions have been looked at for how bridges can be built across the fjord. – It is obvious that a coherent road through the whole country is important, believes Bjarmann-Simonsen. Here goes the ferry connection which, according to NHO, divides Norway. The idea of Fergefri E6 has been around for a long time, according to the director. The great interest thus gives every reason to investigate the possibilities thoroughly. – If you can spend several hundred billion on the E39, I think we should be able to cross one fjord in Northern Norway. Unrealistic assessment – As a responsible politician, you also have to look at the price tag, believes Mona Fagerås (SV), who sits on the transport committee at the Storting. – If it is to be built there, you know it will be very expensive, says Mona Fagerås (SV). Photo: Markus Thonhaugen / news – I don’t like to say that investigations are unrealistic, but this has been investigated before and put aside. Fagerås believes that the geographical area is too rough. – If it is to be built there, you know it will be very expensive. The costs calculated in 2012, of approximately 8 billion, will probably double or triple, according to the politician. Natural intervention Fagerås is also critical of the many settings on the ferries this summer. – This is a completely unsustainable situation for the locals, for businesses and for the tourists who come to the region to see Northern Norway at its best, she says. Nevertheless, Fagerås believes that the nature interventions will be enormous and not profitable. Therefore, it is more important to take care of and develop the roads that already exist. – The most important thing is that the ferries that are supposed to go, go. She believes that the problem of uncertain ferry departures must be solved with clear expectations and demands on the company, that they must fulfill the obligations they entered into when they received the tenders. Staffing problems have led to a number of layoffs at Torghatten Nord. – The situation is particularly serious, says Mona Fagerås (SV). Photo: Lars-Bjørn Martinsen / news – The situation is particularly serious because it is about preparedness. We must have transport that can be trusted, also in Northern Norway – In other words, you are not going to be in favor of ferry-free E6? – In that case, it will be in the very long term, says the parliamentary representative. – It seems as if the whole summer has arrived like Christmas Eve at the old woman’s house for Torghatten Nord. It’s very strange, they had a lot of planning. Natural to look at E6 It is the Ministry of Transport that must order a concept selection study from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration if the estimated investment cost is over NOK one billion, confirms State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Mette Gundersen. – It should be natural to look in particular at E6, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Mette Gundersen. Photo: Ministry of Transport She informs that the biggest transport investigation of all time is currently underway with KVU Northern Norway and that this covers the entire transport system in the north. – On the road side, it would be natural to look in particular at the E6, the only continuous road connection in Northern Norway, and that measures in the national road assessment form part of a concept.
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Wants investigation of ferry-free E6 in Nordland – SV butchers the proposal – news Nordland
