-A thousand meters of the tunnel has been passed, says project director Eilev Lilleland in Skanska. Time for a cake!

The Høviktunnel will constitute large parts of the approximately two kilometer stretch of the new E18 between Ramstadsletta and Strand in Bærum. When the tunnel is finished, it will have two tubes with three lanes in each direction. It will move much of the traffic on what is today one of the country's busiest roads under the ground.

- We have good progress, and the work is on route as planned. This is a project close to both E18 traffic and neighbors, and I am very pleased with how Skanska has managed to take care of this, says Trond Øygarden, construction manager at Statens vegvesen (the Norwegian Public Roads Administration).

Cake for more milestones

Wednesday's mark was not only a celebration of a thousand meters of tunnel, but several other milestones have also been reached.

For parts of the stretch there is no mountain to blast tunnel in, where a brand new concrete tunnel is cast. In addition, concrete is needed for bottom plates, portal and walls and bridges.

- We are in the process of all concrete structures, and have now passed 10,000 cubic meters of cast concrete, says project director Eilev Lilleland at Skanska. 20,000 cubic meters of tunnel stone have been directly reused as self-produced frost protection layers in the project. In addition to effective reuse, it has minimized the need for transport of masses to and from the construction site.

- The E18 West Corridor will be a showcase for climate and sustainability in road construction. There I think Skanska has been creative, and found good solutions, says Øygarden.

As part of the project, in collaboration with the municipality of Bærum, water and wastewater systems are upgraded. Now the first phase of this work is complete. The next phase in Sandviksveien has now started and will continue out 2024.

Neighbors will still notice the tunnel work

Work on the tunnel is ongoing around the clock, with blasting, drilling and injection of sealants in the rock. Work is now underway in part of the mountain where larger ointments can be used in the blast. It provides good drive, but at the same time it can be felt more with the neighbors living nearby.

- We know the blast can sometimes be perceived as unpleasant for those living close. Neighbors closest to the tunnel will be notified as we approach, but anyone who wishes can sign up for SMS notification when blasting, says Øygarden.

The Høviktunnel will be opened for traffic in 2028, while the entire new E18 from Lysaker to Ramstadsletta will be ready in 2030.

Statens vegvesen information (translated from Norwegian).