The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has awarded Sweden’s Skanska a $435m (NOK 4.4 billion) contract to replace an Arctic section of Norway’s main north-south road, the E6 highway.

The old road is considered dangerous, slow and unreliable in winter. The terrain is mountainous and coastal, requiring fjord crossings.

Skanska will build 21.5km of new road between Megården and Sommerset in Sørfold Municipality, which sits some 120km inside the Arctic Circle.

A majority of the section will run through three tunnels, together comprising 13.8km. Open surface road accounts for 6.9km, and three bridges comprise 800m.

Skanska will work on the project from now until its scheduled completion in late 2031.

Cutting 12km off the journey

It’s the first and southernmost stage of three planned to overhaul the E6 from Megården up to Mørsvikbotn, a distance of around 44km.

When the overhaul is complete, around 12km will have been cut from the route.

Skanska beat three other bidders for the Megården-Sommerset section, which the Roads Administration put out to tender last April.

The other bidders were: AF Gruppen Norge; a joint venture of Implenia Norge and Bertelsen & Garpestad; and a joint venture of LNS, Risa, and OHLA.

11-hour detour

Norway’s transport minister Jon-Ivar Nygård welcomed the contract award.

“It is good that we have now got a solid player in the country for the construction of the E6 Megården-Sommerset,” he said.

“The entire E6 Megården-Mørsvikbotn section is currently an accident-prone and demanding section for travelers, especially in winter. When the road is closed, road users will have an 11-hour detour via Sweden.

“This is therefore the start of an important section for both permanent residents and businesses in the region, and not least for emergency preparedness in Norway.

The three stages of the E6 Megården-Mørsvikbotn overhaul (Norwegian Public Roads Administration)