Queue, Car | Tracks monster queues with the Swedish Road Administration’s new approach

Earlier in April, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration announced that they are removing electric cars’ access to the public transport lanes in Oslo and Akershus – temporary.

Although it was not stated in the Swedish Road Administration’s press release, it quickly became known that the temporary period will be three years. From 6 May this year until 2027.

– This will create monster queues that will affect many, many thousands – both private individuals and businesses, says Høyre’s transport policy spokesperson, Trond Helleland, to Nettavisen.

– It is completely out of the question to close the public transport area for electric cars in Oslo and Akershus without having introduced additional public transport or similar measures, says a frustrated Helleland.

Høyre-toppen points out that there are 100,000 people who commute in and out of Oslo daily, as well as large amounts of goods traffic.

– Then you can’t just close the public transport field until 2027. There will be queuing chaos of unimaginable dimensions.

– That type of thing

The action is taken at the same time that Ring 1 in Oslo is closed during the reconstruction of the Hammersborg tunnel. In addition, there will be an upgrade of the Vaterlandstunnel in central Oslo. These are being rebuilt so that they can be adapted to the new government quarter.

On Wednesday, Helleland challenged Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) on the issue in the Storting’s Question Time.

– Approximately NOK 100 million has been set aside for various mitigation measures. Approximately 35 million has also been set aside to do something about street structure and that type of thing in the center of Oslo. That is the basis of the project, replied Nygård.

Nygård added that one cannot hide the fact that the situation will create traffic challenges, and that new routes must be found for some buses.

– There have been slightly different views

Helleland therefore asked if Nygård would ask the Swedish Road Administration to open the public transport lane for electric cars with more passengers if there is chaos on the roads.

It will not be relevant, the minister is to be believed.

– The Norwegian Road Administration has made thorough assessments of how to solve traffic challenges that arise, with close dialogue with Oslo municipality. There have been slightly different views in those processes, but it is envisaged that the transport needs will be solved with public transport, Nygård replied.

No dialogue with Akershus

Helleland reacts in particular to the fact that the politicians in Akershus have not been invited to participate in talks about the change. He asked the minister about this.

Nygård replied that there has been good dialogue between Oslo, the public transport company Ruter and the Norwegian Railway Directorate, before he added:

– There should have been further dialogue with Akershus county council. We have to make sure that we get that in place. I think the Road Administration should do that.

– Thank you for the acknowledgment that Akershus should have been informed, replied Helleland.