Hålogaland Bridge

The bridge was originally planned to be either a suspension bridge or a symphony bridge (a combination of a suspension bridge, a cable-stayed bridge and a cantilever bridge), but the latter was dropped in 2008, as it would cost {{NOK|520 million}} more.{{cite web |url=http://www.vegvesen.no/Om+Statens+vegvesen/Media/Nyhetsarkiv/Lokalt/Region+Nord/52940.cms |title=Hålogalandsbrua - Kostnader |author=Norwegian Public Roads Administration |author-link=Norwegian Public Roads Administration |date=8 January 2008 |language=Norwegian |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629162217/http://www.fremover.no/lokale_nyheter/article5328950.ece |archivedate=29 June 2011 |accessdate=22 January 2011 |url-status=dead }} The Norwegian Public Roads Administration estimated the cost of a suspension bridge in 2008 to {{NOK|1,860 million}}. In addition to the bridge, a tunnel between Trældal and Leirvika was planned at an estimated cost of {{NOK|85 million}}. The administration also worked on a method which would shorten the main span from {{convert|1345|to|1120|m|sp=}} by placing pylons in the fjord. The bridge was inaugurated on 9 December 2018 and was opened for traffic the same day.[https://www.vegvesen.no/Europaveg/e6halogalandsbrua/Nyhetsarkiv/endelig-program-for-apning Endelig program for åpning]

As part of the comprehensive financing of the bridge, Narvik Airport, Framnes, was closed on 1 April 2017, one year before the opening. The bridge shortens travel time to Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, from 60 to 40 minutes, and local politicians have accepted the deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.kosunde.no/pdfs/flyplassernorge.pdf|title=Strategiplan flyplasser|year=2007|language=Norwegian|accessdate=15 October 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724180809/http://www.kosunde.no/pdfs/flyplassernorge.pdf|archivedate=24 July 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3553939.ece |title=Nye veier - færre flyplasser |last=Mauren |first=Arnfinn |date=8 March 2010 |work=Aftenposten |language=Norwegian |accessdate=21 January 2011 |archivedate=29 June 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629171545/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3553939.ece |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.ht.no/incoming/article394763.ece|title=Nedlagt flyplass gir ny Hålogalandsbru|last=Godø|first=Knut|date=5 October 2010|publisher=Harstad Tidende|language=Norwegian|accessdate=15 October 2010}} The Ofoten Regional Council has estimated savings of {{NOK|840 million}} over 30 years should the airport be closed. In October 2009, State Secretary Erik Lahnstein stated that he was unhappy with the calculations, as they were based on unrealistic presumptions.{{cite web |url=http://www.fremover.no/lokale_nyheter/article4669994.ece |title=– Ikke fornøyd med bru-regnestykket |date=28 October 2009 |language=Norwegian |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724180356/http://www.fremover.no/lokale_nyheter/article4669994.ece |archivedate=24 July 2011 |accessdate=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead }} In September 2010, Minister of Transport and Communications Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa stated that the state would issue a "several hundred million kroner" grant. On 25 May 2012, Kleppa announced that the government would grant {{NOK|1.6 billion}} for the bridge, which would supplement {{NOK|850 million}} in tolls and a minor amount from Narvik Municipality.{{cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.8155672 |title=Denne brua skal gjøre slutt på trailersjåførernes mareritt |date=25 May 2012 |language=Norwegian |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528101020/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.8155672 |archivedate=28 May 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 |url-status=dead }} A toll station with a {{NOK|43|link=yes}} toll was opened in September 2015 along the old road, and a toll station with a {{NOK|113}} toll was opened on the north access road after the bridge opened.{{Cite web|title=Forside {{!}} BPS Nord – Hålogalandsbrua AS|url=https://www.haalogalandsbrua.no/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.haalogalandsbrua.no}}

Construction started on 18 February 2013 and was built by the Chinese company Sichuan Road and Bridge Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.fremover.no/lokale_nyheter/article6507146.ece |title=Anleggsstart for Hålogalandsbrua i høst |language=Norwegian |publisher=fremover.no|date=2013-02-19 |accessdate=2013-02-19}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsinenglish.no/2017/11/07/chinese-get-to-build-new-bridge/|title=chinese get to build new bridge|publisher=News in English|date=2017-11-07}} The expected opening was in the spring of 2018, although due to various delays, it was finally opened for traffic on 9 December 2018.

In addition to the Hålogaland Bridge, there are a total of {{convert|4.9|km}} of new road, two new smaller tunnels and a new {{convert|1.1|km|adj=on}} long avalanche protection tunnel on the old road in Trældal, north of Narvik.

The project comprised:{{Cite web|title=The Hålogaland Bridge – a landmark located outside of Narvik|url=https://www.vegvesen.no/vegprosjekter/europaveg/e6halogalandsbrua/english/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Statens vegvesen|language=nb}}

• The Hålogaland Bridge, {{convert|1533|m}}
• Construction of {{convert|1.4|km}} of road on the Narvik side
• The Ornes tunnel, {{convert|270|m}}, on the Narvik side
• Construction of {{convert|3.5|km}} of road at Øyjord
• The Storlikoll tunnel, {{convert|330|m}}, at Øyjord
• The Trældal tunnel, {{convert|1.1|km}}

{{commons category|Hålogalandsbrua|Hålogaland Bridge}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Bridges in Norway}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haalogaland Bridge}}

Category:Narvik

Category:Road bridges in Nordland

Category:Suspension bridges in Norway

Category:Roads within the Arctic Circle

Category:European route E6 in Norway

Category:Bridges completed in 2018