A boost in the transport budget for 2023 is being proposed by the Norwegian Government. The proposed 2023 budget is €7.7 billion, an increase of €159 million. However, this also represents a drop of €243.5 million of funding available for road works in Norway.
A number of road projects planned by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) will now be delayed as a result. Projects that will now be held back include the Oslo Fiord Tunnel Link, the Røldal to Seljestad and Røldal to Seljestad stretches of the E134 route and the Megården to Mørsvikbotn stretch of the E6 route.
Statens Vegvesen will start work on the E10/RV88 Hålogalandsveien project and RV555 Sotrasambandet Sotra Link however, as well as 30 other projects.
Meanwhile, a survey carried out by Norstat for the Norwegian motor vehicle association NAF highlights concern amongst Norwegians at road maintenance levels. According to the survey, 46% of those asked do not think Norway’s roads are being properly maintained, while just 30% think the country’s road maintenance works are sufficient. An estimate from NAF suggests that there is a backlog of road maintenance works costing around €9.58 billion in Norway.