Norway road project sees cost reduction

New technology now looks likely to reduce the cost of Norway’s massive Ferry Free E39 road project. The work had originally been expected to come with a price tag of as much as €36.47 billion (NOK 340 billion) when the plans were announced in early 2016. According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (1208 Statens vegvesen), the crossing over the Bjørnafjorden is now likely to be €858.1 million (NOK 8 billion) less costly than was originally planned. On a similar note, the Møreaksen project will now cost €214.5 million (NOK 2 billion) less than originally expected. Work to build part of the Ferry Free E39 route was previously set out as part of Norway’s National Transport Plan (NTP) for 2014-2023. The original plan was to construct the route over a 20 year period, however no definitive completion date has yet been announced. The NTP for the 2018-2029 period has stated that there is a long term initiative underway to complete the E39 upgrade that will link Kristiansand with Trondheim.