The government is providing NOK 40 million for the safety of the Trollstigen

The happy news was announced by Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) and Municipal and District Minister Erling Sande (Sp) when they appeared at the barrier at Trollstigen on Monday. It was Romsdal’s Budstikke who first mentioned the ministerial visit.

– The Trollstigen is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Norway, and there is great interest in the road both at home and abroad. The attraction is important for people to be able to live and work in the area, says Nygård in a press release.

The well-known tourist road in Rauma was closed due to the risk of landslides at the beginning of June, and a couple of weeks later it was announced that the Trollstigen was to be closed for the rest of the year.

The decision was met with violent protests. Trollstigen is one of Norway’s most popular destinations, and around one million tourists visit the place every year.

The county municipalities must cover the rest

The county road manager in Møre og Romsdal estimated that immediate measures to start road safety work would amount to NOK 50 million. A tug-of-war arose over who should foot the bill – Møre and Romsdal county council or the state.

The NOK 40 million that the ministers can now promise will therefore not be enough to cover the race insurance that is needed. The county council must find a solution to find the rest of the money.

And it is basically the county council’s responsibility to keep the road level, the two ministers emphasized very clearly. But since this is one of Norway’s most important tourist attractions, and absolutely crucial for business in the area, the government will still give a hand count.

– We are therefore choosing to help the county councils get started with money for immediate measures to secure the Trollstigen to ensure start-up as soon as possible. The county council must then find money and good solutions for the road in the long term, says Nygård.

Getting a beating from the Frp

Frank Sve (Frp), who is the Storting representative for Møre og Romsdal and first deputy chairman of the Storting’s transport and communications committee, is critical of the government not fully funding the crisis measures for the safety of the Trollstigen.

He believes that it puts the county in a difficult situation.

– Møre and Romsdal county council must now cut back on ordinary operations in areas such as schools, culture, industry and transport due to a government paralyzed in action that cannot handle crises, claims Sve.

– Understand that it is a large expense

The closure has meant that tourists have canceled planned trips to Norway and Trollstigen this year.

Locally, Trollstigen Drift has laid off 40 employees, while messages about canceled bookings are pouring in. Local and regional business interests have pointed out that the closure has knock-on effects for Norway as a tourism destination.

The Trollstigen is an important road for tourism and forms the basis for many restaurants and other local businesses, Sande points out.

– We understand that this is a large expense for the county municipalities and that the demand for large expenses came suddenly, says the municipal minister.

Ruined road

The road has been characterized by landslides for many years. Already in 2018, a report revealed that the stretch of road was more prone to landslides and rockfalls than previously thought. And two years ago, the opening in May had to be postponed until June because it took time to clear the road of stones as a result of many landslides.

The Ministry of Transport has previously pointed out that Trollstigen is a county road, and that Møre and Romsdal have received NOK 127 million this year for road safety.

It is good that the county council gets help to get started, says Naf.

– At the same time, this is not enough to secure the way for the future. The great need for avalanche protection of the Trollstigen and many other exposed sections must be taken up by the government, says press manager Ingunn Handagard.

– The work will take months

The work on road measures will take around four months, the county road manager in Møre og Romsdal has previously estimated to NRK. Only when it is done can professionals assess the effect.

Trollstigen is usually open from mid-May until the first snow falls. There is therefore little indication that the work can be completed during this tourist season.

There is a need for immediate measures to prevent the closure also affecting planned visits next year, the two ministers emphasize. County road manager Ole Jan Tønnesen does not dare to promise that Trollstigen can open next season.

– This is nature. There are many uncertainties related to this, so issuing guarantees would be foolish, Tønnesen has previously stated to NRK.

In addition to the work on immediate avalanche protection and mountain cleaning, professionals are working to put in place a longer-term solution to secure the Trollstigen.