Norway calls for bids on 80km tunnel megaproject

16/01/2025, 09:08

Illustration by Fellesprosjektet Arna-Stanghelle Statens vegvesen/Bane NOR

The joint project between the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and Bane NOR has announced a contract for rock and slope protection work in the construction areas at Vaksdal, Stanghelle and Helle. The competition will be conducted as an open tender process with a deadline in February. A contractor is expected to be in place by April, with preparations starting this year.

Hilde Wexels Riser

The work includes clearing and securing rock cuts and other measures to secure the future construction areas and reduce the risk of landslides during the construction period. The work is estimated to take one year.

“The contract is crucial for the safety of the future construction areas where we will later start blasting for new road and rail tunnels,” says project manager for the joint project, Kari Bremnes.

The areas where work will take place are located above the future road and rail tunnels at four sites in Vaksdal, one at Stanghelle and one area at Helle. The sites are close to the current E16 road, and there will be periodic manual traffic control and short traffic stoppages while the work is ongoing. Project manager Bremnes says they will plan the work with respect to major holiday travel periods, such as in connection with sporting events.

Investment Decision Expected This Spring

The actual start of construction for the new road and rail tunnels, cross passages and rock caverns is contingent upon parliamentary approval of the cost framework and partial toll funding. The government has indicated it will submit a proposal for parliamentary consideration this spring.

The translation was written by an AI system, though the original text was authored by a human. Read the original article here

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