Traffic flowed normally despite the closure of Ring 1 in Oslo

– Neither earlier today nor this afternoon have there been any reports of challenges in the traffic as a result of the closure, says traffic operator Christofa Key-Nilsen in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to NTB at 6pm on Monday.

– There has actually been less traffic than usual. Maybe because more people are on holiday, she says.

The reason for the closure is that the Hammersborg tunnel between Oslo Spektrum and St. Olavs gate is to be lowered ten meters as part of the terror protection of the new government quarter. Ring 1 will be closed for the next three years.

Change in bus routes

The collective company in Greater Oslo, Ruter, has had to make changes to some of the bus routes due to the closure. It seems that the travelers have caught on to this, says the company’s press officer, Cathrine Myren Haugen.

– There have been no major delays with us or challenges in traffic due to the closure. People have been good at keeping up to date with the information we have provided, she tells NTB.

– There are six bus routes that now change their terminus to the Nationaltheatret, so this will be a change in everyday travel for some, adds Haugen.

– Demanding

Operations manager Bjørn Gunnar Nysæter in the Oslo police district tells NTB that there were no incidents on Monday linked to the closure of Ring 1.

Today, over 17,000 cars drive the route daily. City council leader Eirik Lae Solberg (H) told NTB on Sunday that he anticipates that the closure will be demanding.

– The next three years will be very demanding for us who live in Oslo and who travel here, Solberg said.

Already experiencing more queues

Press manager Ingunn Handagard in Naf tells NRK that there are already more queues after the electric cars could no longer use the public transport lanes in Oslo and Akershus. This was introduced in May 2024.

She refers to a survey that Norstat has carried out on behalf of Naf.

The survey showed that four out of ten in Oslo and Akershus are already experiencing more queues and delays after the change. This makes her worried about the closure of Ring 1.

– We fear even greater consequences when Ring 1 is closed completely, she says.

Want more measures

The well-known politician Bård Hoksrud from the FRP expresses dissatisfaction with the closure of Ring 1 and believes that more measures should be taken to prevent traffic chaos in Oslo when the holidays are over.

– It is possible to achieve far more flexible and good solutions. I expect action before people return from holiday, so that serious situations and complete chaos in traffic in Oslo can be prevented, says Hoksrud.