- Defensively and short-sighted – NRK

– I think it is incredibly defensive of Public Roads.

It believes Eidsberg Mayor Erik Unaas about NPRA E18 recommendation only to build two-lane from Melleby to the national border. Road Administration estimates that traffic growth will taper off ahead and do not think there is a need for a four-lane road on the stretch until 2040. Unaas said a four-lane route has unison support from local politicians as well as government officials.

Erik Unaas, mayor of Eidsberg (H).

Photo: Kjell-Olav Nordberg

– This project arouses great enthusiasm among locals and politicians from all parties, but then we encounter a NPRA whose only arguments against the project. I think this is a strange image, says Unaas.

Traffic Growth

The traffic on the route has increased by an average of four and a half percent a year over the last 13 years writing Smaalenenes Avis. The pace will be needed for four fields already about 12 years, but NPRA believes it is uncertain whether growth will continue at the same pace.

They estimate rather that growth will be 2.5 percent. Mark mayor Kjersti Nyth Nilsen has little faith in NPRA forecasts.

Mayor Mark, Kjersti Nyth Nilsen (Ap).

Photo: Martin Tangen Schmidt / NRK

– I do not think anything of it. Forecasts they used the last time we built on the stretch did not measure. Traffic has increased more than expected, she said.

Public Roads writes in his note that traffic growth in recent years is probably due to better road conditions. They also writes that there is great uncertainty about population growth, economic development and border trade. Therefore they believe it will be an investment to build four fields now.

Ecolabel in Sweden

26 years is not a long time in public roads perspective believes deputy mayor Kjell-Arne Ottosson Årjäng Municipality other side of the border.

– I could certainly be a bit ugly and point out that when it comes to E18 through Østfold and Akershus into Oslo still ongoing major discussions about the way to go, so it may take very long time before anything is clear.

Årjängs second largest employer called Nortura, located in Norway. Ottosson says close to Østfold and Oslo have very much to say for the development on the Swedish side. He has no faith that growth will slow.

It does not believe Nyth Nilsen Mark. She will have four lanes although it may delay the development.

– I think there is broad agreement in Mark that one gladly wait a bit on the road if you either can do it properly.