Norway to boost nationwide transport

The Norwegian government announced March 13 that it intended to spend unprecedented fiscal budget on development, operation and maintenance of the road and rail networks and coastal shipping lanes.

Photo: www.sikkertrafikk.no

“In the decade ahead we intend to spend a total of NOK 321.9 billion via the fiscal budget on development, operation and maintenance of the road and rail networks and coastal shipping lanes,” says Liv Signe Navarsete, transport and communications minister in a statement.

This is NOK 100 billion or 45 per cent more than in the previous National Transport Plan.

This is a major initiative for a safer, more environment-friendly and efficient transport system. The plan is to build and bind the country together.

The Government will strengthen public transport in densely populated areas and expand the road network in areas where public transport is not a viable option.

The Government is increasing road and rail investments and ensuring that projects already under way are efficiently implemented. They are also making more funds available for the operation and maintenance of the road and rail networks alike.

Close to 40 major road projects will be launched, all costing in excess of NOK 200 million. They include a hefty upgrading of the E6 highway from north to south, the E16 Oslo-Bergen highway and the E39 coastal trunk road. The Government propose spending NOK 10 billion on rockfall/landslide protection in the period. 

Government purchases of ferry services forming part of the national road system will be assured by maintaining the level of spending in the 2009 budget. This will make room for some increase in ferry service provision, both on the national road network and the new county road network.

The present airport structure will also be maintained provided there is no wish at the local level to close an airport down.

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