Trekantsambandet
Encyclopedia
The Triangle Link is a fixed link with three branches that connects the islands of Stord and Bømlo
to each other and to the mainland at Sveio
, Norway
. It consists of the underwater Bømlafjord Tunnel from Sveio to the island of Føyno
, the Stord Bridge
from there to Stord, and a road including the Bømla Bridge
and the Spissøy Bridge
to Bømlo. The section form Sveio to Stord is part of European Route E39
, while the branch to Bømlo is part of County Road 542
.
The Bømlo Tunnel is 7860 metres (25,787.4 ft) long and reaches 260 metres (853 ft) below mean sea level. It is the longest subsea tunnel in Norway and was the deepest in the world when it opened. The Stord Bridge and Bømla Bridge are both suspension bridges, with lengths of 1077 metre and main spans of 677 metre. The Spissøy Bridge is a 283 metres (928.5 ft) beam bridge
. The link is 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi) long toll road
with a toll plaza on Føyno. The section from Stord to Bømlo has a pedestrian and bicycle path.
Plans for a link between Bømlo and Stord were first launched as a pontoon bridge
in the 1960s. In the late 1980s, the plans evolved into a triangular project. There was controversy surrounding the project, in particular from environmentalists. The Parliament of Norway passed the plans in 1996, and construction started the following year. The bridges and link between Stord and Bømlo opened on 28 December 2000, while the tunnel opened on 30 April 2001.
The Bømlafjord Tunnel is a 7860 metres (25,787.4 ft) long subsea tunnel which crosses Bømlafjorden
. It is 11 metres (36.1 ft) wide, 4.7 metres (15.4 ft) tall, and reaches 260.4 metres (854.3 ft) below mean sea level. The tunnel has three lanes, one downwards and two upwards. When it opened, it was the longest and second-deepest subsea tunnel in Europe. Stord Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Digernessundet, connecting Stord with Føyno. It is 1077 metres (3,533.5 ft) long, and has a main span of 677 metres (2,221.1 ft). The bridge is 13.5 metres (44.3 ft) wide and has a clearance of 18 metres (59.1 ft). It has two 97 metres (318.2 ft) tall pylons, one foundationed on Digernesklubben and one on Føyno. The pylons were built in concrete, while the deck is built as 19 in steel sections, each 36 metres (118.1 ft) long and weighing 150 tonnes (147.6 LT). It has the second-longest span in Norway, after the Askøy Bridge
.
Bømla Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Spissøysundet, connecting Spissøy with Nautøya. It is 998 metres (3,274.3 ft) long, and has a main span of 577 metres (1,893 ft). The bridge is 13 metres (42.7 ft) wise and has a clearance of 36 metres (118.1 ft). The higher clearance is to allow ship traffic which runs through Nyleia between Bømlo and Stord to continue to operate. It has two 105 metres (344.5 ft) tall pylons, one foundationsed on Brunsholmen and one on Spissøy. The bridge has a similar aesthetically design to the Stord Bridge, and also features a steel deck with concrete pylons. It has the fifth-longest span in Norway. Spissøy Bridge is a beam bridge which crosses Gassasundet, connecting Bømlo with Spissøy. It is 283 metres (928.5 ft) long and consists of five spans. It has a clearance of 7 metres (23 ft).
The fixed link project also includes 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of highway. On Stord, E39 received a new two-lane, limited-access road from Meatjørn to the bridge. This included a new grade separated interchange
in the southern part of Leirvik
and a culvert
—the Digernes Tunnel—just before the bridge. In Sveio, the link included 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) of new limited-access road from the bridge to a grade-separated interchange at Dalshovda. In Bømlo, there is built a new road across the islands of Spissøy
and Nautøy
—including an intersection
on Spissøy, a new section of road from the Bømlo side of Spissøy Bridge at Gassasundet to Røyksund, and from Gassasundet to Grøvle, including a new tunnel through Stokkajuvet. A combined pedestrian and bicycle path runs along the whole section between Stord and Bømlo, with a grass division on the land parts between the road and the path. Underpasses and walls are made in natural stone.
The tolls are collected at a toll plaza located on Føyno
. It is constructed as a grade-separated intersection, resulting in that any car passes through the plaza once, although local traffic from Føyno to Bømlo do not have to pay. Cars driving along E39 drive straight ahead through the plaza, while cars to or from Bømlo need to use the interchange. There is also an intersection allowing access to the island. The plaza has six lanes, of which two in each direction have a toll both and one in each direction has an automatic collection. The toll station uses the Autopass
toll collection, which allows passage without stopping, in addition to manual collection. Passengers, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcyclists and mopeds are free. As of 2011, the fees are NOK 85 for cars and NOK 270 for trucks. Frequent travelers can prepay for at least 40 passings to the toll company, and receive a 40 percent discount.
and Moster
made them prioritize other sectors, and the project was abandoned without any official investigations.
A new route was proposed by Mayor Malvin Meling of Bømlo, who proposed a pontoon bridge
which would cross Stokksundet. He was inspired by the plans to build what would become the Nordhordland Bridge
north of Bergen
. In 1973, the municipal councils of Bømlo, Stord and Fitjar decided to launch a planning process, which concluded that a pontoon bridge between Sørstokken
and Foldrøyholmen would be optimal. The report also considered bridges across the Fitjar Archipelago, and across via Spissøy and Føyno. There were protests from Wichmann Motorfabrikk, who were worried about their operations if the sound was closed for shipping traffic. Similar protests also came from the shipping industry, who wanted to continue using Stokksundet, despite a suspension bridge being proposed across Foldrøysundet. To illustrate their point, one ship-owner let two of his ships cross in the middle of Foldrøysundet. The shipping industry received support from Norwegian Coastal Administration
, and the plans were abandoned in 1974.
In the early 1980s, plans for Stord Airport, Sørstokken
were launched, and in 1982 the plans for a bridge crossing Stokksundet were again raised, this time from the industry on Bømlo, who would have to travel by ferry to reach the new airport. In May 1983, a committee was established with representatives from all three municipalities, to look into the possibilities for a bridge. Led by Bømlo's mayor Arne M. Haldorsen, it gave Engineer Harald Møyner the job to make a new report. He made three proposals: a pontoon or suspension bridge between Foldrøyhomen and Litlaneset; a suspension bridge between Setraneset and Sokkbleikjo, which would terminate just south of the new airport; and a combined fixed link between Spissøy and Digernes, without passing via the Fitjar Archipelago. The latter was the first time a fixed link to the mainland was proposed. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration protested against a possible suspension bridge near the airport, but stated that one closer further away would be fine.
Mapping of transport on Bømlo was performed by Hordaland Public Roads Administration in 1984, and based on this and other feedback, a pontoon bridge between Foldrøyholmen and Sørstokken became the most probable outcome. It was estimated to cost NOK 190 million, in addition to auxiliary roads for NOK 40 million. Following the opening of the Vardø Tunnel
in 1982, the first subsea tunnel in Norway, Engineer Finn Nitter d.e. proposed a fixed link which involved a combined bridge, road and tunnel connection between the islands, including a suspension bridge over Digernessundet, a causeway and low bridge onwards to a 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) subsea tunnel under Spissøysundet and a low bridge over Gassasundet. In addition, a 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) long tunnel would be built from Føyno to Ulveråker in Sveio.
The company Johannes Sørlie launched an all-tunnel proposal in 1985, which would cost NOK 700 million and give 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) of subsea tunnel connecting Bømlo to Stord and the mainland. The committee was positive to the proposals, while Josef Martinsen, director of Hordaland Public Roads Administration, stated that the project was unrealistic. Sveio Municipality was then invited as a member of the committee. On 14 May 1985, the committee voted to encourage the municipal councils to pass planning which involved a bridge across Sørstokken, and aimed to get the plans into Norwegian Road Plan 1990–1993. The committee continued its work until it in October 1986 dissolved itself, and instead the limited company Ytre Sunnhordland Bru- og Tunnelselskap AS (SBT) was founded. It became owned by the municipalities of Bømlo, Stord, Fitjar and Sveio, Hordaland County Municipality
and the banks Bergen Bank
, Sparebanken Vest
, Vestlandsbanken
, Haugesund Bank and Kredittkassen.
In December 1986, a new master plan for the project was made by the Public Roads Administration. It proposed four main methods: via the Fitjar Archipelago, via Foldrøyhamn with a pontoon bridge to Sørstokken, a suspension bridge from Søtreneset to Stokkbleikjo, or via Spissøy, Naustøy, Føyno to Digernes. They recommended choosing the pontoon bridge. SBT stated that this was only to be a first stage, and that a second stage should involve a tunnel to the mainland. In a meeting at the end of 1986 between SBT and representatives for the shipping industry, it was decided that SBT would start working for a mainland connection that would not hinder sailing.
A report published by SBT in 1987 looked at details for a subsea tunnel to the mainland, and was the first official document to use the "Triangle Link" term, although this had previously been used by the press. A delegation traveled to Washington State in the United States and British Columbia
in Canada to look at their seven pontoon bridges, while seismic surveys were done in Bømlafjorden. SBT changed its name to Sunnhordland Bru- og Tunnelselskap, and a majority of the board shifted towards being in favor of a fixed link. The issue became the subject of major local debate, and was supplemented by a demand from residents in southern Bømlo that they did not want to lose their ferry service, which would be faster than driving via the fixed link.
From 1988, environmentalists started actively opposing the Triangle Link. The most active were the local chapter of the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
, which stated that the road would have serious consequences for the local boat traffic to the recreational islands of Føyno and Nautøy. Instead, they recommended that the municipalities chose a pontoon bridge. An action group was established. Hallgeir Matre stated that Stord had a lack of beaches, and that the two islands "were the last low, forested islands in the area after the paradise Eldøyane
had been been converted to an industrial area for Aker Stord during the 1970s". He further stated that environmentalists were skeptical to floating bridges, but that in this case it would be the lesser of two evils. The Stord Society for the Conservation of Nature applied for municipal grants to make a critical report, but this was rejected by the majority of the municipal council. By June, a new chapter had been established on Bømlo, and the group stated that it was irresponsible to build a link which would result in a massive increase in car use. Future In Our Hands started a petition
, which collected 1,600 signatures. A poll from 1990 showed that in Stord, 35 percent were in favor of the project, while 36.7 percent were opposed, given that the ferry service was improved, among other things with night ferries and increased comfort.
Another opponent to the project was the Action Committee Against a Hasty Construction of the Triangle Link, who wanted to delay the decision until after the 1991 municipal elections
, to ensure that the municipal councils had backing in the public. Gisle Tjong was another opponent, who stated that the risk in the project was large and that it was uncertain how long the tolls would last: they could just as well be 60 as 15 years. Instead, he wanted to use advanced tolls and fuel fees, place the income in the bank and then pay the whole fixed link with the saved-up funds. Most of the opposition against the project was from Stord, while in Bømlo there was mostly support. However, in southern Bømlo there were concerns that they would lose their ferry, as they would have a much longer rout to Haugesund via the Triangle Link. Some also stated that it was necessary to keep a ferry for people with fear of tunnels.
On 22 February 1988, Bømlo Municipal Council voted unanimously in favor of the Triangle Link. Two days later, the issue was discussed in Stord Municipal Council. Olav Akselsen
at first proposed supporting the pontoon bridge, but after a trial vote he withdrew the proposal, and also Stord supported the Triangle Link. The following week, Sveio Municipal Council also supported the Triangle Link, without debate. On 15 March, Fitjar Municipal Council voted to work with both proposals. Hordaland Public Roads Administration still supported a pontoon bridge, and stated that two and a half years of work on a master plan had been wasted. A new master plan for the Triangle Link was published in early 1989, estimating the costs at NOK 890 million. It recommended that the Langevåg–Buavåg Ferry remain, but the other four ferry services be terminated. The report concluded that the maintenance costs of the fixed link would be lower than the subsidies of the ferry, that the project would be economical of society and would reduce emissions.
During late 1989, advance tolls on the ferries was approved by the municipal councils and the county council, who recommended that collection start from 1 July 1990, but this was not immediately supported by the government. On 18 and 19 September 1990, the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications
visited the region and looked at the proposed areas of the Triangle Link, the Hardanger Bridge
and the Folgefonna Tunnel. By then it had been established that the Triangle Link would not need state grants, as it could be entirely financed with tolls, and Tore Haugen
, Conservative parliamentarian from Akershus
, proposed that the project be considered outside the normal road plans. However, Lars Gunnar Lie
, Minister of Transport and Communications
of the Christian Democratic Party, stated that he planned a single report to parliament for all three projects.
In 1991, the master plan was appealed by the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The appeal was seconded by the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
. In the 1991 municipal election, the Socialist Left Party
was the only party which was opposed to the fixed link, and they received a large increase in votes, increasing for 7 to 21 percent. The same year, Dag Hareide
in the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature started lobbying up towards national politicians in an attempt to stop the issue in the Parliament of Norway. High-profile people who were opposed to the project included Per Ståle Lønning, Herborg Kråkevik
and Kenneth Sivertsen.
The issue of advanced tolls was again considered by the county council on 23 October 1991, where 64 voted in favor and 19 were opposed, the latter representing the Socialist Left Party, Red Electoral Alliance
and the Progress Party
. In June 1992, the county council was asked to prioritize between the Hardanger Bridge and the Triangle Link, as there would not be sufficient state grants to build both projects. Both would require between NOK 200 and 300 million, and it would bot be possible to start both projects in the period from 1994 to 1997. In the council meeting on 18 June 1992, a proposal to reject to prioritize was rejected. The council then with 44 against 30 voted to prioritize the Hardanger Bridge, which received most votes from the Labour and Centre Party
. The Conservative Party was the only in which all the votes were cast in favor of the Triangle Link. The Socialist Left Party's proposal to build neither received 11 votes.
In July, the master plan was passed by the Council of State. On 10 December 1992, parliament approved advanced payment of tolls on the ferry, which were made effective from 1 January 1993. Ticket prices increased with between NOK 10 and 12. This resulted in protests from the ferry employees who stated that they would have to collect the tolls which would remove their jobs, and Norwegian Seafarers' Union
representatives stated that they considered suing the state. Work on the development plan started in 1992. It included safety and environmental improvements which increased the project's cost by NOK 200 million. In May 1994, it was made subject to consultative statements.
During 1993, Norwegian Road Plan 1994–97 was to be considered by parliament. Minister of Transport and Communications, Kjell Opseth
of the Labour Party, stated that he wanted to prioritize the Triangle Link and the Hardanger Bridge equally, but that it would be unrealistic to build both in the same period. On a county council meeting on 21 April 1993, the council decided with 60 against 20 votes that the county would not prioritize between the two projects. Opseth subsequently stated that in his opinion, the Triangle Link should be prioritized. In 1995, a report on the Coastal Highway (E39) was presented, which recommended that the Skjersholmane–Valevåg Ferry be removed.
Particularly within the Labour Party, there was disagreement about whether or not to build the Hardanger Bridge. In addition to crossing a pristine fjord, Hardangerfjorden, there were concerns that the bridge would increase the traffic across Hardangervidda National Park
, and that it subsequently would result in an all-year road being built, with subsequent negative impact on the nature and wildlife. On 10 October 1995, Prime Minister
Gro Harlem Brundtland
of the Labour Party stated that the government was in favor of the Triangle Link and opposed to the Hardanger Bridge.
When the standing committee visited the two projects in 1996, they were met by demonstrators in favor of the bridge in Hardanger, and demonstrators in opposition to the fixed link in Sunnhordland. In May, SBT proposed building a culvert
on Digernes as a compromise for a proposal from the Labour Party and the Christian Democratic Party to consider other solution, which could have postponed the project several years. On 11 June 1996, parliament decided with 144 against 20 votes to build the Triangel Link. The Folgefonna Tunnel was also passed, while the Hardanger Bridge was put aside.
, representatives for Vestlandet Natue and Youth, and The People's Movement Against the Triangle Link had to be moved. The only police officer at the festivities was Sheriff Reidar Færestrand, who was not dressed in his police uniform, and had not taken his badge. The demonstrators did not move until a police boat had been sent with the necessary documentation and Færestrand could prove his identity as a law enforcer. Elin Lerum Boasson
of Nature and Youth stated that it was "a day of sorrow".
Core sample
s showed that the tunnel would have to be built 30 metres (98.4 ft) deeper than originally planned to avoid deposits. The tunneling was done by NCC Eeg-Henriksen from the Føyno side and by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration from the Sveio side. Construction from Sveio started on 16 September 1997 and from Føyno on 6 March 1998. In average, the tunnel was built at a speed of 55 metres (180.4 ft) per week, with the record being 96.7 metres (317.3 ft). The lowest point was reached on 5 May 1999 and the breakthrough took place on 2 September, five months before schedule. The toll company held a course for people with fear of tunnels to master their fears, with 60 people participating. When it opened, it was the longest and second-deepest subsea tunnel in Europe and Norway, after the Hitra Tunnel.
The Stord and Bømla Bridges were both constructed using the same method and by the same contractors, Arbeidsfellesskapet Triangle Contractor, a joint venture
between NCC Eeg-Henriksen and HBG Steel Structures. Construction started on the Stord Bridge on 20 February 1999. After the pylons were completed, two catwalks were erected between them, with the constructors choosing a continual catwalk instead of three separate ones. The cables were spun on-site using a reel
; this also allowed for cost savings, as the reels could be used two times. The cables were spun using the air spinning with controlled tension, which allowed spinning with little place and with a crew with limited experience with spinning. The two bridges were the first time that on-site spinning was chosen in Norway. The fastening poles were delivered five weeks after schedule; a new mounting method was developed which allowed them to be installed in a quarter of the time, in part by using a helicoper, and the whole five week delay was eradicated. This allowed the deck sections to be installed as scheduled.
The decks were produced in Schiedam
, Netherlands, for the Stord Bridge and in Italy for the Bømlo Bridge. These were sent by barge to Sunnhordland. The section length was different between the two bridges, the Stord Bridge having them in lengths of 36 metres (118.1 ft) and the Bømla Bridge in sections of 24 metres (78.7 ft). This was to accommodate the latter's smaller vertical curvature.
, which connected Stord to Sveio, and the Skjersholmane–Utbjoa Ferry
, which connected Stord to Vindafjord
. With the opening of the Bømlo connection, the two remaining ferries could be closed: the Sagvåg–Siggjarvåg Ferry
which connected Stord with Bømlo, and the Mosterhamn–Valevåg Ferry
, which connected Bømlo to Sveio. The Langevåg–Buavåg Ferry, which connects the southern part of Bømlo to Sveio, was not closed. In 2000, the four closed ferry services trabsported 884,216 vehicles and 1,935,875 people.
The system took into use Autopass
from the start, a standard which allows automatic passage through the toll plaza without stopping. The system was launched by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 2001, and the Triangle Link was the first to take the system into use. The tollway was also the first to allow subscriptions to be made via the Internet. The initial charges were NOK 75 for cars up to 3.5 tonnes (3.4 LT) or 6 metres (19.7 ft) length, NOK 225 for small trucks, between 6 metre, and NOK 450 for longer vehicles.
Bømlo
Bømlo is a municipality in Sunnhordland, in the southern part of the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is also the name of the main island of this archipelago, consisting of about 900 islets, located west of Stord....
to each other and to the mainland at Sveio
Sveio
Sveio is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Sveio is located in the traditional district of Haugaland-Location:Geographically, Sveio is situated on the Haugaland peninsula. The administrative centre is the village of Sveio. Sveio was separated from Finnås in 1861. Vikebygd was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It consists of the underwater Bømlafjord Tunnel from Sveio to the island of Føyno
Føyno
Føyno is an inhabited island south-west of Stord, part of Stord municipality in Norway. The island was joined to the mainland in December 2000, via Sveio in the south, through the Bømlafjord tunnel and Stord to the north via the Stord bridge. The bridge takes the E39 traffic as part of the Triangle...
, the Stord Bridge
Stord Bridge
The Stord Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Digernessundet the islands of Stord and Føyno in Stord, Norway. The bridge is long, has a main span of and a clearance below of .. It carries two lanes of European Route E39 and a combined pedestrian and bicycle pathway. It is part of the...
from there to Stord, and a road including the Bømla Bridge
Bømla Bridge
The Bømla Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Spissøysundet between the islands of Nautøy in Stord and Spissøy in Bømlo, Norway. The bridge is long, has a main span of and a clearance below of . It carries two lanes of County Road 542 and a combined pedestrian and bicycle pathway...
and the Spissøy Bridge
Spissøy Bridge
Spissøy Bridge is a bridge that crosses Gassasundet between Spissøy and Klungervika at Bømlo in Hordaland county in Norway. It is part of Trekantsambandet that connects the islands Bømlo and Stord to the mainland...
to Bømlo. The section form Sveio to Stord is part of European Route E39
European route E39
E 39 is the designation of a 1330 km long north-south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Orkanger, Vinjeøra, Halsa ... Straumsnes, Krifast, Batnfjordsøra, Molde ... Vestnes, Skodje, Ålesund ... Volda ... Nordfjordeid ... Sandane, Førde,...
, while the branch to Bømlo is part of County Road 542
Norwegian County Road 542
County Road 542 , prior to 1 January 2010 National Road 542 , is a long county road running through the northern part of Bømlo, Norway, and connecting the island community to the Føyno in Stord via part of the Triangle Link. County Road 542 contains two mayor bridges, the Bømla Bridge and Spissøy...
.
The Bømlo Tunnel is 7860 metres (25,787.4 ft) long and reaches 260 metres (853 ft) below mean sea level. It is the longest subsea tunnel in Norway and was the deepest in the world when it opened. The Stord Bridge and Bømla Bridge are both suspension bridges, with lengths of 1077 metre and main spans of 677 metre. The Spissøy Bridge is a 283 metres (928.5 ft) beam bridge
Beam bridge
Beam bridges are the most simple of structural forms being supported by an abutment at each end of the deck. No moments are transferred through the support hence their structural type is known as simply supported....
. The link is 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi) long toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
with a toll plaza on Føyno. The section from Stord to Bømlo has a pedestrian and bicycle path.
Plans for a link between Bømlo and Stord were first launched as a pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
in the 1960s. In the late 1980s, the plans evolved into a triangular project. There was controversy surrounding the project, in particular from environmentalists. The Parliament of Norway passed the plans in 1996, and construction started the following year. The bridges and link between Stord and Bømlo opened on 28 December 2000, while the tunnel opened on 30 April 2001.
Route
The link is part of two roads, European Route E39 and County Road 542. The section from Stord to Sveio, including the Stord Bridge and the Bømlafjord Tunnel, is part of the E39, the Coastal Highway which runs along the west coast of Norway. The section on County Road 542 contains the Bømla Bridge and Spissøy Bridge. The link acts both as a mainland connection for Stord and Bømlo to the mainland at Sveio, as well as a link between the two island communities with a combined population of 30,000.The Bømlafjord Tunnel is a 7860 metres (25,787.4 ft) long subsea tunnel which crosses Bømlafjorden
Bømlafjorden
Bømlafjorden is a fjord in Hordaland, Norway, and the outer-most part of the Hardangerfjord. The Bømlafjord Tunnel crosses under Bømlafjorden....
. It is 11 metres (36.1 ft) wide, 4.7 metres (15.4 ft) tall, and reaches 260.4 metres (854.3 ft) below mean sea level. The tunnel has three lanes, one downwards and two upwards. When it opened, it was the longest and second-deepest subsea tunnel in Europe. Stord Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Digernessundet, connecting Stord with Føyno. It is 1077 metres (3,533.5 ft) long, and has a main span of 677 metres (2,221.1 ft). The bridge is 13.5 metres (44.3 ft) wide and has a clearance of 18 metres (59.1 ft). It has two 97 metres (318.2 ft) tall pylons, one foundationed on Digernesklubben and one on Føyno. The pylons were built in concrete, while the deck is built as 19 in steel sections, each 36 metres (118.1 ft) long and weighing 150 tonnes (147.6 LT). It has the second-longest span in Norway, after the Askøy Bridge
Askøy Bridge
The Askøy Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Byfjorden between Bergen and Askøy in Hordaland, Norway. It is long and has a main span of , making it the longest suspension bridge in Norway. It carries two lanes of County Road 562 and a combined pedestrian and bicycle path...
.
Bømla Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Spissøysundet, connecting Spissøy with Nautøya. It is 998 metres (3,274.3 ft) long, and has a main span of 577 metres (1,893 ft). The bridge is 13 metres (42.7 ft) wise and has a clearance of 36 metres (118.1 ft). The higher clearance is to allow ship traffic which runs through Nyleia between Bømlo and Stord to continue to operate. It has two 105 metres (344.5 ft) tall pylons, one foundationsed on Brunsholmen and one on Spissøy. The bridge has a similar aesthetically design to the Stord Bridge, and also features a steel deck with concrete pylons. It has the fifth-longest span in Norway. Spissøy Bridge is a beam bridge which crosses Gassasundet, connecting Bømlo with Spissøy. It is 283 metres (928.5 ft) long and consists of five spans. It has a clearance of 7 metres (23 ft).
The fixed link project also includes 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of highway. On Stord, E39 received a new two-lane, limited-access road from Meatjørn to the bridge. This included a new grade separated interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
in the southern part of Leirvik
Leirvik
Leirvik is a town and the administrative centre of Stord municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Leirvik is the regional centre of Sunnhordland, and has many public services and offices such as the regional court and Sunnhordland Museum, as well as shops and restaurants...
and a culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
—the Digernes Tunnel—just before the bridge. In Sveio, the link included 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) of new limited-access road from the bridge to a grade-separated interchange at Dalshovda. In Bømlo, there is built a new road across the islands of Spissøy
Spissøy
Spissøy, sometimes spelled Spyssøy, is an island in Bømlo, Norway. It is connected to the island of Bømlo by the Spissøy Bridge and to the island of Nautøy via the Bømla Bridge....
and Nautøy
Nautøy
Nautøy is an unpopulated island in Stord, Norway. It is connected to the island of Spissøy by the Bømla Bridge and to the island of Føyno via a small bridge. Country Road 542, part of the Triangle Link, runs across the island....
—including an intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
on Spissøy, a new section of road from the Bømlo side of Spissøy Bridge at Gassasundet to Røyksund, and from Gassasundet to Grøvle, including a new tunnel through Stokkajuvet. A combined pedestrian and bicycle path runs along the whole section between Stord and Bømlo, with a grass division on the land parts between the road and the path. Underpasses and walls are made in natural stone.
The tolls are collected at a toll plaza located on Føyno
Føyno
Føyno is an inhabited island south-west of Stord, part of Stord municipality in Norway. The island was joined to the mainland in December 2000, via Sveio in the south, through the Bømlafjord tunnel and Stord to the north via the Stord bridge. The bridge takes the E39 traffic as part of the Triangle...
. It is constructed as a grade-separated intersection, resulting in that any car passes through the plaza once, although local traffic from Føyno to Bømlo do not have to pay. Cars driving along E39 drive straight ahead through the plaza, while cars to or from Bømlo need to use the interchange. There is also an intersection allowing access to the island. The plaza has six lanes, of which two in each direction have a toll both and one in each direction has an automatic collection. The toll station uses the Autopass
Autopass
Autopass is an electronic toll collection system used in Norway. It allows collecting road tolls automatically from cars...
toll collection, which allows passage without stopping, in addition to manual collection. Passengers, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcyclists and mopeds are free. As of 2011, the fees are NOK 85 for cars and NOK 270 for trucks. Frequent travelers can prepay for at least 40 passings to the toll company, and receive a 40 percent discount.
Pontoon bridge proposals
The first recorded proposals for a connection between Bømlo and Stord were made by sheriff, and later mayor of Fitjar, Finn Havnerås, in the 1960s. Christened the Island Road, he proposed a series of eleven bridges and causeways which would run from Kalveid in Fitjar via Brandasund to Rolfsnes in Bømlo. While local politicians were not opposed to the plan, the recent municipal merger between Bømlo, BremnesBremnes
Bremnes is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Bremnes had a population of 3,411....
and Moster
Moster
Moster is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Moster had a population of 1.316....
made them prioritize other sectors, and the project was abandoned without any official investigations.
A new route was proposed by Mayor Malvin Meling of Bømlo, who proposed a pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
which would cross Stokksundet. He was inspired by the plans to build what would become the Nordhordland Bridge
Nordhordland Bridge
The Nordhordland Bridge is a combined cable-stayed and pontoon bridge which crosses Salhusfjorden between Klauvaneset and Flatøy in Hordaland, Norway. It is long, of which the pontoon section is long. The cable-stayed section consists of a single tall H-pylon which has a length of and a main...
north of Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. In 1973, the municipal councils of Bømlo, Stord and Fitjar decided to launch a planning process, which concluded that a pontoon bridge between Sørstokken
Sørstokken
Sørstokken is a peninsula on the island of Stord, Norway. It is the location of Stord Airport, Sørstokken....
and Foldrøyholmen would be optimal. The report also considered bridges across the Fitjar Archipelago, and across via Spissøy and Føyno. There were protests from Wichmann Motorfabrikk, who were worried about their operations if the sound was closed for shipping traffic. Similar protests also came from the shipping industry, who wanted to continue using Stokksundet, despite a suspension bridge being proposed across Foldrøysundet. To illustrate their point, one ship-owner let two of his ships cross in the middle of Foldrøysundet. The shipping industry received support from Norwegian Coastal Administration
Norwegian Coastal Administration
Norwegian Coastal Administration is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the water transport infrastructure along the 92,000 km Coast of Norway. It is responsible for coastal navigation infrastructure, pilotage and harbour and port infrastructure, including lighthouses...
, and the plans were abandoned in 1974.
In the early 1980s, plans for Stord Airport, Sørstokken
Stord Airport, Sørstokken
Stord Airport, Sørstokken is a municipal regional airport located at Sørstokken in Stord, Norway. Located from Leirvik, it is the only airport with scheduled services in Sunnhordland. The airport consists of a single asphalted long 15–33 runway. It is classified as an airport of entry.Danish...
were launched, and in 1982 the plans for a bridge crossing Stokksundet were again raised, this time from the industry on Bømlo, who would have to travel by ferry to reach the new airport. In May 1983, a committee was established with representatives from all three municipalities, to look into the possibilities for a bridge. Led by Bømlo's mayor Arne M. Haldorsen, it gave Engineer Harald Møyner the job to make a new report. He made three proposals: a pontoon or suspension bridge between Foldrøyhomen and Litlaneset; a suspension bridge between Setraneset and Sokkbleikjo, which would terminate just south of the new airport; and a combined fixed link between Spissøy and Digernes, without passing via the Fitjar Archipelago. The latter was the first time a fixed link to the mainland was proposed. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration protested against a possible suspension bridge near the airport, but stated that one closer further away would be fine.
Mapping of transport on Bømlo was performed by Hordaland Public Roads Administration in 1984, and based on this and other feedback, a pontoon bridge between Foldrøyholmen and Sørstokken became the most probable outcome. It was estimated to cost NOK 190 million, in addition to auxiliary roads for NOK 40 million. Following the opening of the Vardø Tunnel
Vardø Tunnel
The Vardø Tunnel is a long two-lane subsea road tunnel which connects the island of Vardøya to the mainland. It is located in Vardø on European Route E75. The tunnel opened in 1982 and was the first subsea tunnel in Norway....
in 1982, the first subsea tunnel in Norway, Engineer Finn Nitter d.e. proposed a fixed link which involved a combined bridge, road and tunnel connection between the islands, including a suspension bridge over Digernessundet, a causeway and low bridge onwards to a 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) subsea tunnel under Spissøysundet and a low bridge over Gassasundet. In addition, a 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) long tunnel would be built from Føyno to Ulveråker in Sveio.
The company Johannes Sørlie launched an all-tunnel proposal in 1985, which would cost NOK 700 million and give 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) of subsea tunnel connecting Bømlo to Stord and the mainland. The committee was positive to the proposals, while Josef Martinsen, director of Hordaland Public Roads Administration, stated that the project was unrealistic. Sveio Municipality was then invited as a member of the committee. On 14 May 1985, the committee voted to encourage the municipal councils to pass planning which involved a bridge across Sørstokken, and aimed to get the plans into Norwegian Road Plan 1990–1993. The committee continued its work until it in October 1986 dissolved itself, and instead the limited company Ytre Sunnhordland Bru- og Tunnelselskap AS (SBT) was founded. It became owned by the municipalities of Bømlo, Stord, Fitjar and Sveio, Hordaland County Municipality
Hordaland county municipality
Hordaland County Municipality is the regional governing administration of Hordaland, Norway. The main responsibilities of the county municipality includes the running of 46 upper secondary schools, with 17,000 pupils...
and the banks Bergen Bank
Bergen Bank
Bergen Bank was a Norwegian commercial bank in existence between 1975 and 1990. It was created as a merger between Bergens Privatbank and Bergens Kreditbank while the bank Kvam Privatbank was acquired in 1979. In 1988 it bought Nevi. Bergen Bank, which was based in Bergen, Norway, merged with Den...
, Sparebanken Vest
Sparebanken Vest
Sparebanken Vest is the third largest savings bank in Norway, and the country's second oldest bank. Its predecessor, Bergens Sparebank, was established in 1823. The main offices lie in Bergen, though the bank has branches throughout Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane and Rogaland. Sparebanken Vest was...
, Vestlandsbanken
Vestlandsbanken
Vestlandsbanken was a bank based in Bergen, Norway. It was established in 1926 and explicitly did all its business in Nynorsk. In 1975, it merged with the Oslo-based Oslo Nye Sparebank, also it a Nynorsk-bank. In 1987, Vestlandsbanken merged with Bøndernes Bank, Forretningsbanken and Buskerudbanken...
, Haugesund Bank and Kredittkassen.
In December 1986, a new master plan for the project was made by the Public Roads Administration. It proposed four main methods: via the Fitjar Archipelago, via Foldrøyhamn with a pontoon bridge to Sørstokken, a suspension bridge from Søtreneset to Stokkbleikjo, or via Spissøy, Naustøy, Føyno to Digernes. They recommended choosing the pontoon bridge. SBT stated that this was only to be a first stage, and that a second stage should involve a tunnel to the mainland. In a meeting at the end of 1986 between SBT and representatives for the shipping industry, it was decided that SBT would start working for a mainland connection that would not hinder sailing.
A report published by SBT in 1987 looked at details for a subsea tunnel to the mainland, and was the first official document to use the "Triangle Link" term, although this had previously been used by the press. A delegation traveled to Washington State in the United States and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in Canada to look at their seven pontoon bridges, while seismic surveys were done in Bømlafjorden. SBT changed its name to Sunnhordland Bru- og Tunnelselskap, and a majority of the board shifted towards being in favor of a fixed link. The issue became the subject of major local debate, and was supplemented by a demand from residents in southern Bømlo that they did not want to lose their ferry service, which would be faster than driving via the fixed link.
Opposition
The Coastal Administration stated that they would not allow a pontoon bridge. On 26 June 1987, SBT decided to work to get permission to collect advanced tolls on the ferry services. On 16 September, they unanimously supported the triangular proposal, which was estimated to cost NOK 660 million. This was criticized by Hordaland Public Roads Administration, who stated that it would take longer time to plan, and thus complete, the Triangle Link. A poll from January 1988 showed that 78.6 percent of the population of Bømlo wanted the Triangle Link, while 8.6 percent wanted the pontoon bridge. On 6 January, SBT started negotiating loans with various banks to secure financial guarantees fro the Triangle Link, and by February sufficient funding had been secured.Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature , also known as Friends of the Earth Norway and commonly abbreviated NNV is the largest Norwegian environmental organization with 28,000 members. The organization is based on a volunteer work among the members, constituting work both at local and...
, which stated that the road would have serious consequences for the local boat traffic to the recreational islands of Føyno and Nautøy. Instead, they recommended that the municipalities chose a pontoon bridge. An action group was established. Hallgeir Matre stated that Stord had a lack of beaches, and that the two islands "were the last low, forested islands in the area after the paradise Eldøyane
Eldøyane
Eldøyane is a partially man-made former island just outside Leirvik in Stord, Norway. It is the location of Aker Stord....
had been been converted to an industrial area for Aker Stord during the 1970s". He further stated that environmentalists were skeptical to floating bridges, but that in this case it would be the lesser of two evils. The Stord Society for the Conservation of Nature applied for municipal grants to make a critical report, but this was rejected by the majority of the municipal council. By June, a new chapter had been established on Bømlo, and the group stated that it was irresponsible to build a link which would result in a massive increase in car use. Future In Our Hands started a petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
, which collected 1,600 signatures. A poll from 1990 showed that in Stord, 35 percent were in favor of the project, while 36.7 percent were opposed, given that the ferry service was improved, among other things with night ferries and increased comfort.
Another opponent to the project was the Action Committee Against a Hasty Construction of the Triangle Link, who wanted to delay the decision until after the 1991 municipal elections
Norwegian local elections, 1991
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1991. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
, to ensure that the municipal councils had backing in the public. Gisle Tjong was another opponent, who stated that the risk in the project was large and that it was uncertain how long the tolls would last: they could just as well be 60 as 15 years. Instead, he wanted to use advanced tolls and fuel fees, place the income in the bank and then pay the whole fixed link with the saved-up funds. Most of the opposition against the project was from Stord, while in Bømlo there was mostly support. However, in southern Bømlo there were concerns that they would lose their ferry, as they would have a much longer rout to Haugesund via the Triangle Link. Some also stated that it was necessary to keep a ferry for people with fear of tunnels.
Political processes
Olav Akselsen
Olav Akselsen is Director General of Shipping and Navigation. Akselsen has served six terms in the Norwegian Parliament for the Norwegian Labour Party, and was Minister of Petroleum and Energy in the first cabinet Stoltenberg from 2000 to 2001.-1989 to 2001:Akselsen was first elected to the...
at first proposed supporting the pontoon bridge, but after a trial vote he withdrew the proposal, and also Stord supported the Triangle Link. The following week, Sveio Municipal Council also supported the Triangle Link, without debate. On 15 March, Fitjar Municipal Council voted to work with both proposals. Hordaland Public Roads Administration still supported a pontoon bridge, and stated that two and a half years of work on a master plan had been wasted. A new master plan for the Triangle Link was published in early 1989, estimating the costs at NOK 890 million. It recommended that the Langevåg–Buavåg Ferry remain, but the other four ferry services be terminated. The report concluded that the maintenance costs of the fixed link would be lower than the subsidies of the ferry, that the project would be economical of society and would reduce emissions.
During late 1989, advance tolls on the ferries was approved by the municipal councils and the county council, who recommended that collection start from 1 July 1990, but this was not immediately supported by the government. On 18 and 19 September 1990, the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications
Standing Committee on Transport and Communications
The Standing Committee on Transport and Communications is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for policies relating to transport, postal services, telecommunications, electronic communication and the responsibilities of the Norwegian National Coastal Administration...
visited the region and looked at the proposed areas of the Triangle Link, the Hardanger Bridge
Hardanger Bridge
Hardanger Bridge is a bridge under construction which will cross the Hardangerfjord in southwestern Norway. It will replace today's ferry connection, a part of the shortest road connection between Oslo and Bergen....
and the Folgefonna Tunnel. By then it had been established that the Triangle Link would not need state grants, as it could be entirely financed with tolls, and Tore Haugen
Tore Haugen
Tore Haugen is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1989, and was re-elected on one occasion...
, Conservative parliamentarian from Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
, proposed that the project be considered outside the normal road plans. However, Lars Gunnar Lie
Lars Gunnar Lie
Lars Gunnar Lie is a Norwegian politician from the Christian People's Party and was the Minister of Transport and Communications 1989-1990.-References:...
, Minister of Transport and Communications
Minister of Transport and Communications (Norway)
The Minister of Transport and Communications is a Councillor of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. Since 20 October 2009, the position has been held by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa of the Centre Party...
of the Christian Democratic Party, stated that he planned a single report to parliament for all three projects.
In 1991, the master plan was appealed by the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The appeal was seconded by the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management is Norway's national governmental body for preserving Norway's natural environment, including establishing and regulating national parks and other protected areas...
. In the 1991 municipal election, the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
was the only party which was opposed to the fixed link, and they received a large increase in votes, increasing for 7 to 21 percent. The same year, Dag Hareide
Dag Hareide
Dag Hareide is presently the director of Nansen Academy in Norway, the Norwegian Humanistic Academy. He has been director of other folk high schools, chair of the Namibia Association of Norway, rehabilitation coordinator for United Nations Emergency Office during the famine in Ethiopia ,...
in the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature started lobbying up towards national politicians in an attempt to stop the issue in the Parliament of Norway. High-profile people who were opposed to the project included Per Ståle Lønning, Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik is a Norwegian singer and actress, known for her works with Norwegian folksongs and some stage works and many movies...
and Kenneth Sivertsen.
The issue of advanced tolls was again considered by the county council on 23 October 1991, where 64 voted in favor and 19 were opposed, the latter representing the Socialist Left Party, Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
and the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
. In June 1992, the county council was asked to prioritize between the Hardanger Bridge and the Triangle Link, as there would not be sufficient state grants to build both projects. Both would require between NOK 200 and 300 million, and it would bot be possible to start both projects in the period from 1994 to 1997. In the council meeting on 18 June 1992, a proposal to reject to prioritize was rejected. The council then with 44 against 30 voted to prioritize the Hardanger Bridge, which received most votes from the Labour and Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
. The Conservative Party was the only in which all the votes were cast in favor of the Triangle Link. The Socialist Left Party's proposal to build neither received 11 votes.
In July, the master plan was passed by the Council of State. On 10 December 1992, parliament approved advanced payment of tolls on the ferry, which were made effective from 1 January 1993. Ticket prices increased with between NOK 10 and 12. This resulted in protests from the ferry employees who stated that they would have to collect the tolls which would remove their jobs, and Norwegian Seafarers' Union
Norwegian Seafarers' Union
The Norwegian Seafarers' Union is a trade union in Norway. The union was established 25 September 1910 under the name Norsk Matros- og Fyrbøter-Union . Current name was adapted 1933, though the use of the current English translation was gradually changed over several years around 2000 from...
representatives stated that they considered suing the state. Work on the development plan started in 1992. It included safety and environmental improvements which increased the project's cost by NOK 200 million. In May 1994, it was made subject to consultative statements.
During 1993, Norwegian Road Plan 1994–97 was to be considered by parliament. Minister of Transport and Communications, Kjell Opseth
Kjell Opseth
Kjell Olav Opseth is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was Minister of Transport and Communications 1990-1996 and Minister of Local Government Affairs 1996-1997.-References:...
of the Labour Party, stated that he wanted to prioritize the Triangle Link and the Hardanger Bridge equally, but that it would be unrealistic to build both in the same period. On a county council meeting on 21 April 1993, the council decided with 60 against 20 votes that the county would not prioritize between the two projects. Opseth subsequently stated that in his opinion, the Triangle Link should be prioritized. In 1995, a report on the Coastal Highway (E39) was presented, which recommended that the Skjersholmane–Valevåg Ferry be removed.
Particularly within the Labour Party, there was disagreement about whether or not to build the Hardanger Bridge. In addition to crossing a pristine fjord, Hardangerfjorden, there were concerns that the bridge would increase the traffic across Hardangervidda National Park
Hardangervidda National Park
Hardangervidda National Park, at 3,422 square kilometers, is Norway's largest national park. It spans from Numedal and Uvdal in the east and Røvelseggi and Ullensvang in the west across the Hardanger mountain plateau...
, and that it subsequently would result in an all-year road being built, with subsequent negative impact on the nature and wildlife. On 10 October 1995, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
of the Labour Party stated that the government was in favor of the Triangle Link and opposed to the Hardanger Bridge.
When the standing committee visited the two projects in 1996, they were met by demonstrators in favor of the bridge in Hardanger, and demonstrators in opposition to the fixed link in Sunnhordland. In May, SBT proposed building a culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
on Digernes as a compromise for a proposal from the Labour Party and the Christian Democratic Party to consider other solution, which could have postponed the project several years. On 11 June 1996, parliament decided with 144 against 20 votes to build the Triangel Link. The Folgefonna Tunnel was also passed, while the Hardanger Bridge was put aside.
Construction
Construction started on 15 February 1997. Before the first blast could be taken by County Mayor Magnar LussandMagnar Lussand
Magnar Lussand is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party.In 1991 Lussand was elected county mayor of Hordaland. He was succeeded by Gisle Handeland in 1999, who was the Labour Party representative to hold this position.He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from...
, representatives for Vestlandet Natue and Youth, and The People's Movement Against the Triangle Link had to be moved. The only police officer at the festivities was Sheriff Reidar Færestrand, who was not dressed in his police uniform, and had not taken his badge. The demonstrators did not move until a police boat had been sent with the necessary documentation and Færestrand could prove his identity as a law enforcer. Elin Lerum Boasson
Elin Lerum Boasson
Elin Lerum Boasson is a Norwegian environmentalist and was chairman of Natur og Ungdom in 2001 and 2002. Before being chairman she had been deputy chairman and active in the organisation since she was 13...
of Nature and Youth stated that it was "a day of sorrow".
Core sample
Core sample
A core sample is a cylindrical section of a naturally occurring substance. Most core samples are obtained by drilling with special drills into the substance, for example sediment or rock, with a hollow steel tube called a core drill. The hole made for the core sample is called the "core hole". A...
s showed that the tunnel would have to be built 30 metres (98.4 ft) deeper than originally planned to avoid deposits. The tunneling was done by NCC Eeg-Henriksen from the Føyno side and by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration from the Sveio side. Construction from Sveio started on 16 September 1997 and from Føyno on 6 March 1998. In average, the tunnel was built at a speed of 55 metres (180.4 ft) per week, with the record being 96.7 metres (317.3 ft). The lowest point was reached on 5 May 1999 and the breakthrough took place on 2 September, five months before schedule. The toll company held a course for people with fear of tunnels to master their fears, with 60 people participating. When it opened, it was the longest and second-deepest subsea tunnel in Europe and Norway, after the Hitra Tunnel.
The Stord and Bømla Bridges were both constructed using the same method and by the same contractors, Arbeidsfellesskapet Triangle Contractor, a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
between NCC Eeg-Henriksen and HBG Steel Structures. Construction started on the Stord Bridge on 20 February 1999. After the pylons were completed, two catwalks were erected between them, with the constructors choosing a continual catwalk instead of three separate ones. The cables were spun on-site using a reel
Reel
A reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
; this also allowed for cost savings, as the reels could be used two times. The cables were spun using the air spinning with controlled tension, which allowed spinning with little place and with a crew with limited experience with spinning. The two bridges were the first time that on-site spinning was chosen in Norway. The fastening poles were delivered five weeks after schedule; a new mounting method was developed which allowed them to be installed in a quarter of the time, in part by using a helicoper, and the whole five week delay was eradicated. This allowed the deck sections to be installed as scheduled.
The decks were produced in Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...
, Netherlands, for the Stord Bridge and in Italy for the Bømlo Bridge. These were sent by barge to Sunnhordland. The section length was different between the two bridges, the Stord Bridge having them in lengths of 36 metres (118.1 ft) and the Bømla Bridge in sections of 24 metres (78.7 ft). This was to accommodate the latter's smaller vertical curvature.
Opening
The first part of the link, between Stord and Sveio, including the Stord Bridge and Bømlafjord Tunnel, was taken into use on 27 December 2000. The official opening and the entry into service of the section on National Road 542 was opened on 30 April 2001. The opening of the first stage allowed two ferry services to be replaced, the Skjersholmane–Valevåg FerrySkjersholmane–Valevåg Ferry
Skjersholmane–Valevåg Ferry was a automobile ferry which connected the island of Stord to the mainland in Sveio. The route was operated by Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap and ran between Skjersholmane on Stord to Valevåg on the mainland as part of European Route E39...
, which connected Stord to Sveio, and the Skjersholmane–Utbjoa Ferry
Skjersholmane–Utbjoa Ferry
Skjersholmane–Utbjoa Ferry was a automobile ferry which connected the island of Stord to the mainland in Vindafjord. The route was operated by Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap and ran between Skjersholmane on Stord to Utbjoa on the mainland. The last ferry to operate the route was MF...
, which connected Stord to Vindafjord
Vindafjord
Vindafjord is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland.Vindafjord was established as a new municipality on 1 January 1965 after the merger of the municipalities of Sandeid and Vats and large parts of Imsland, Skjold and Vikedal...
. With the opening of the Bømlo connection, the two remaining ferries could be closed: the Sagvåg–Siggjarvåg Ferry
Sagvåg–Siggjarvåg Ferry
The Sagvåg–Siggjarvåg Ferry was a automobile ferry which connected the island communities of Bømlo and Stord. The route was operated by Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap and ran between Siggjarvåg on Bømlo to Sagvåg on Stord...
which connected Stord with Bømlo, and the Mosterhamn–Valevåg Ferry
Mosterhamn–Valevåg Ferry
Mosterhamn–Valevåg Ferry was a automobile ferry which connected the island community of Bømlo to the mainland in Sveio. The route was operated by Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap and ran between Mosterhamn on Bømlo to Valevåg on the mainland...
, which connected Bømlo to Sveio. The Langevåg–Buavåg Ferry, which connects the southern part of Bømlo to Sveio, was not closed. In 2000, the four closed ferry services trabsported 884,216 vehicles and 1,935,875 people.
The system took into use Autopass
Autopass
Autopass is an electronic toll collection system used in Norway. It allows collecting road tolls automatically from cars...
from the start, a standard which allows automatic passage through the toll plaza without stopping. The system was launched by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 2001, and the Triangle Link was the first to take the system into use. The tollway was also the first to allow subscriptions to be made via the Internet. The initial charges were NOK 75 for cars up to 3.5 tonnes (3.4 LT) or 6 metres (19.7 ft) length, NOK 225 for small trucks, between 6 metre, and NOK 450 for longer vehicles.