Ever since 1949, Bergen has had a tradition of sending a Christmas tree to Newcastle.
This year’s fir was felled at Voss, but when the tree was to be transported via the E16 to the port of Bergen, the transport was at its peak.
In the video below, you can clearly see that the tree crashes into the guardrail, the tunnel walls, and brushes against passing cars.
Here, the Christmas tree snows the truck in the tunnel
Will demand compensation
It was Bergens Tidende that first mentioned the Christmas tree case.
The Swedish Road Administration tells the newspaper that there is a number of damages to signs, lights, markings and reflectors after the trip.
– We are talking about a six-figure amount, i.e. in the range of hundreds of thousands of kroner, says technical manager Per Arne Blindheim in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to BT.
On Friday, Blindheim tells TV 2 that several of the damages have been fixed, but he confirms that this is now an insurance matter.
TV 2 has not been able to get in touch with the carrier.
READY FOR SHIPPING: This is what the bottom of the Christmas tree looked like while it was lying in the harbor in Bergen waiting for the boat. The bottom looks thin, but this could also be due to the strapping. Photo: Penelope Alida Larsen / TV 2
Will it be nice?
On Friday afternoon, the tree was ready for shipment at the port in Bergen. The top was nice, but the bottom could look reasonably ragged.
OPTIMISTIC: Bergen mayor Linn Kristin Engø (Ap) thinks the fir tree looks good. Photo: Penelope Alida Larsen / TV 2
The Christmas tree was, of course, fixed with straps, so it is only when the tree is erected in all its glory in the square in Newcastle that you get the answer to whether the tree has preserved its stateliness during the journey.
– I actually didn’t think it looked that crazy, so I think that when the decorations and lights are in place, it will look fantastic, says Bergen Mayor Linn Kristin Engø (Ap).
She herself was present at the harbor in the city before the tree was sent by boat. The mayor says the tree has been chosen with care.
– What I have been told is that this is a so-called vossa fir. It is naturally dense and was actually left after forests were felled in the area because it was so beautiful.
VOSSAGRAN: The tree doesn’t look quite so shabby from the top, but we will get the final answer to the condition when the spruce is put up in England. Photo: Penelope Alida Larsen / TV 2
Don’t believe in Trafalgar replay
Last year there was a lot of uproar and criticism from the English, who thought the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square was reasonably “cheesy”.
Back then, it was Oslo that had been responsible for the green Christmas gift, but Engø does not fear that the gift from Bergen will suffer the same fate.
– I hope and believe that it will look nice when it is allowed to stand in the middle of Newcastle and shine.
