The ambitious multi-bridge and sub-sea tunnel Nordøyvegen road project– with Skanska as main contractor – has won the prestigious Norwegian Civil Engineering Award 2022.
According to Norwegian media, the project was started by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) and later taken over by the Møre og Romsdal County. It included the construction 13km of under-sea tunnels, three concrete bridges of 800m, 200m and 110m as well as 2.7km of road on reclaimed land and 10km of conventional road.
The North Island Road – the English translation – is the largest county road project so far in Norway and opened last year. It connects the islands of Ålesund to the mainland in Møre og Romsdal county. This road was opened in 2022 to replace several ferry crossings and costed jut over €443 million. It serves the 3,000 residents of the islands and is partly financed by a toll station at the Lepsøy Island bridge that connects the network to the mainland.
The Lepsøy, Lauvøy and Hamnaskjersund Bridges are part of a total 2.7km-long causeway built with fill in the shallow waters around the islands.
Meanwhile, the 3.5km Haramsfjord Tunnel connects the island of Haramsøya to the small island of Hestøya, the 5.7km Nogvafjord Tunnel connects the island to Fjørtofta to the island of and the 3.7km Fjørtoftfjord Tunnel connects the island of Harøya to the island of Fjørtufta.
The project has great sustainability ambitions and is certified according to the international sustainability standard CEEQUAL, a UK-based international evidence-based sustainability assessment, rating and awards scheme for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and works in public spaces.
