The Norwegian Public Roads Administration tells NRK that the bridge is completely closed, and that there will be a detour via Finland in the future. Traffic operator Brita Bjerkli says that the bridge will be closed for a long time, at least a week.
– We do not yet know anything about the reason why the bridge has collapsed, but think it has something to do with the large water flow.
Operations manager at sites, Fire Chief Nils Arnold Nilsen says that the bridge looks like a small U, and that it has sunk almost a meter. He can confirm that it is the spring flood that is the reason why the bridge is failing.
– We are used to Kvænangsfjellet being closed in winter, but that it is closed on the hottest summer day is a bit unusual, Nilsen says.
Now motorists traveling between the north and south of the county must via Finland. From Alta to Tromsø, this means that the 381-kilometer-long road has suddenly become a 544-kilometer drive.
