After 398 explosions, New Roads and contractor ACCIONA are through in the new race on the Væretunnelen Tunnel.

- This is an important milestone in the project, says Grim Rønsberg, project manager at Nye Veier. Those who pass the Væretunnelen Tunnel on a regular basis have certainly noticed that large-scale work has been going on there. Blasting work has led to the tunnel being closed for short periods, several times a day. Now Nye Veier and the contractor on the project, ACCIONA, have blasted their way through the new tunnel at Væretunnelen.

- This is a milestone that we in the project have been looking forward to reaching. We are now one step closer to the new E6 from Ranheim to Værnes. When we are eventually finished and all the tunnels have two runs, we will have a considerably safer road, says Rønsberg.

The project is entering a new phase

Even though there is a breakthrough in the tunnel, blasting work will still be ongoing in the Væretunnelen Tunnel and it will be necessary to close it to traffic. Preferably during the day, and the frequency will be somewhat reduced.

- With the breakthrough today, the project enters a new phase, says Rønsberg.

Work will now be done on the tunnel's infrastructure, such as surface water pipes, electrical work, safety equipment and road construction. Safety inspections and tests must then be carried out before road users can drive through the new tunnel. It may be at the turn of the year 2023/2024.

Two temporary roundabouts

In addition to working inside the tunnel, there will be more work outside during the day. This means that there will be more visible work in the time to come. This will also affect E6 traffic. The project will establish two roundabouts on the E6, probably in the next few weeks, one on Ranheim and one on Sveberg. These roundabouts are necessary to ensure the safety of both the road user who uses the road and the workers who will build it. But they can affect accessibility.

- This means that it may be a good idea to add a few extra minutes to the planned driving time, says Rønsberg.

The roundabouts will be removed towards the end of the project.

Satisfied contractor
The contractor in the project, ACCIONA, is also very pleased with today's event.

- The breakthrough in the tunnel is a visible proof of the good work our employees and partners have done. Together they have handled challenging tasks and not least a pandemic. This is a great day for everyone involved, especially for all the workers who have worked inside the tunnel. But it is also a day of joy for the local community, residents and businesses in Trøndelag, which is now a big step closer to a new and better connection between Ranheim and Værnes, says Francisco Vicente Soto, project director at ACCIONA.

The breakthrough of the two remaining tunnels is expected during the first half of 2022.

E6 Ranheim-Værnes:    23 kilometers of four-lane highway with middle sections
    7.1 kilometers of the stretch are in a tunnel:
    - Væretunnelen tunnel: 1.6 km
    - Stavsjøfjell tunnel: 1.7 km
    - Light tunnels: 3.8 km
    All the tunnels will have two runs, which will both increase capacity, significantly improve traffic safety and reduce the need for detours in the event of, for example, accidents and maintenance work.
    5 new two-level intersections
    3 new highway bridges
    Many new transition bridges and culverts

The Væretunnelen tunnel:
    398 explosions
    550,000 tons of rock have been blasted out. Much of the stone will be used in the construction of the new road.

Information and photos from NTB K.