The Government will spend NOK 508 million on the transport sector over the next ten years, according to the new National Transport Plan, which was presented to Parliament on Friday.
Of these funds, NOK 311 billion will be spent on roads, NOK 168 billion on railroads and more than NOK 19 billion og coastal trabsport facilities.
One of the major projects will be a new Highway E18, from Oslo through the western communities of Bærum and Asker, the worst bottleneck in the road network in and out of Oslo.
The new road will have six lanes, with one lane reserved for bus transport. In additon there will also be a bicycle path in both direction.
Also included in the plan is the upgrading of the rail network in the Oslo region, with twin tracks to Fredrikstad, Tønsberg and Hamar.
The plan also calls for the initiating of work on a ferry-free road connection along the West Coast, between Kristiansand and Trondheim.
However, not included in the plan is a much needed underground railway tunnel through Oslo, to supplement the present tunnel which does not have enough capacity to handle the increasing traffic.
The National Transport Plan is produced every four years and elaborates on how the Government intends to prioritise resources within the transport sector over the next ten years.
The National Transport Plan shall also ensure an effective use of resources and strengthen the interaction between the various modes of transport.
(NRK/Aftenposten)
