The political movement Frp og Sp supports the addition of the new Strynefjell tunnel to Norway's National Transport Plan. The local transporters are happy with the political will to prioritize a new tunnel and hope the parliamentary majority secures the project, writes Fjordabladet.

The government had already announced in 2018 that they had chosen the long tunnel B1 option in a press release titled (English translation) The government is going for a long Strynefjell tunnel - alternative B1.

It read as:

- The government is concerned with ensuring safe and efficient travel routes for both business and most people. The Strynefjell tunnels need improvements, and several alternative solutions have been studied. The Government has now decided that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration will use the solution with a long tunnel as a replacement for the Strynefjell tunnels on RV 15. That solution provides the best accessibility in the long term and contributes with the least possible problem for road users during the construction period. This benefits all users of Strynefjellet, says Minister of Transport Ketil Solvik-Olsen.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications wants to proceed with planning of the concept on RV 15 over Strynefjellet, which will provide a new mountain tunnel on most of the section - the so-called B1 concept. The alternative makes it possible to build a new road at the same time as people can still use the old one.

Arrangements will also be made for connection to a new road from Geiranger. The road is a county road and it is therefore the county municipalities that must prioritize money for a possible improvement of the section.

- I have been in the region on several occasions to drive the stretch, meet business and local authorities. This has been useful in our decision-making process. We now look forward to all parties working well together to find good solutions that provide high benefits and low costs for the project, says Solvik-Olsen.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will now send an assignment to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to continue the planning of a new mountain tunnel, so that it can be considered in the work on the National Transport Plan 2022-33.

Now the political will is arising to really place it in the National Transport Plan.

https://www.fjordabladet.no/nyhende/2021/05/26/Frp-og-Sp-legg-ny-strynefjellstunnel-inn-i-Nasjonal-Transportplan-24024351.ece