We have no chance of building Western Norway together
DEBATE: The National Transport Plan (NTP) for 2022–2033 was approved by the Storting just before the summer. It is historic, not least for those of us who live in and care about Western Norway. Now we must together fence off the historic investment in the north-south axis in our region.
Debate post
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Geir Inge Lunde
Chairman of Initiative West
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Tommy Aarethun
Daily camp (const.) In Initiative West
You might be wondering why this is historical? Yes, this is the first time in Norway’s history that a real attempt has been made to build Western Norway together – from Kristiansand in the south to Kristiansund in the north. Across fjords and county boundaries. It has so far been commonplace that major debates and investments in transport in our region have largely been about how we should connect the region to Austland and Oslo.
Counterforce to the Oslo region
Western Norway is the only region in Norway that collectively has a real opportunity to be a counterforce to the Oslo region. We also know how to respond to many of the challenges society we do not face, located in the natural resources here in Western Norway, and in the sea off our coast. If the region is to be able to become a real force, it is crucial that we in Western Norway now stand together to put in place both infrastructure and cooperation structures that make it possible for this role in the future. Through the InterCity project in the Oslo region built together. In addition, the plans for connections to Stockholm and Copenhagen will be taken as a next step. In that case, this will further strengthen the Oslo region’s position at the expense of other regions in Norway.
It will build together the cities and their environs, and it will build together the different regions.
Safe framework conditions for the business community
It is not because it should be quick to drive between Kristiansand and Kristiansund that the investment within the NTP is important. The key is that this will connect a number of housing and labor market regions along the entire West Coast, and ensure an infrastructure that provides good and secure framework conditions for business in the region, and which makes it possible for those who live here to move quickly and efficiently within for the region. This is how we ensure that there are people working in these areas who will be even more important when an ever-growing world population has to eat more sustainable seafood, when we have to produce and export renewable energy, and when we have to extract minerals and develop world-leading technology for CO storage. To name a few.
Work has begun on building a four-lane motorway from Kristiansand to Stavanger. The Rogfast project will connect the Stavanger region with Haugalandet. Hordfast wants to link Haugalandet together Stord and Bergen. An improvement of the E16 between Voss and Bergen will ensure that an important route is upgraded and safe. A number of smaller projects on the E39 north of Bergen will connect the Bergen region and old Sogn og Fjordane. Stad ship tunnel is a pioneering project that will secure the coastal path past dangerous stretches. In the north, Møreaksen will connect Ålesund with Molde and Kristiansund. All that remains is this good project which will be important for its area, but if we can not get all the projects in place, it will have good other effects. Then we will really put in place a historic investment that connects different housing and labor market regions along the entire coast. This is how we lay the foundation for realizing the great potential in Western Norway.
Fragmentation and rematch
The transport leadership debate is largely characterized by different actors fighting for different projects. This leads to fragmentation and rematch that goes beyond the whole company and important initiatives. Many will rightly claim that we westerners are extra good at this. We believe that now is the time to rise from these individual campaigns, and that together we should now fight to realize all the projects that lie within this NTP. It will be a huge boost if we get this project realized. It will build together the cities and their environs, and it will build together the different regions. It will again open up new doors for cooperation and collaboration in Western Norway. We are all tents with that.