Lofoten Mainland Connection - Lofast
LNS participated in the construction of Lofast, a stretch of road running from Gullesfjordbotn in Vesterålen to Fiskebøl in Lofoten. Lofast is a total of 51 kilometers long and has provided Lofoten connection to the mainland.
Constructing Lofast represented a substantial alteration of the natural landscape. The road runs very close to Møysalen National Park, and it was important for the project not to affect this protected area. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration wanted Lofast to appear as a discrete installation.
The construction took place in two stages, with the first stage between Fiskebøl and Raftsundet being completed in 1998. Disagreements over routing caused a delay, and construction on the second stage did not commence until August 2003, and it was to be another four years until the road was officially opened, on 1 December 2007. Lofast then became a part of the European Road E10.
On the Lofast project LNS was responsible for the distance between the Ingelsfjord tunnel to Raftsundet. This included the construction of three tunnels with a total length of 3 kilometers; the Ingelsfjord, Storås, and Raftsund tunnels. Constructing of eight kilometer road, two bridges and a culvert for exiting traffic was also part of the project.
The area where the construction took place had no infrastructure, such as roads and quay facilities. This posed great challenges for LNS, as machinery, equipment, and barracks, for example, had to be ferried in by boat to roadless rural communities. Ships were unloaded in open sea, and the machinery was brought in on barges.
In order to minimize damage to the terrain, the works traffic had to follow the permanent road, or temporary pioneer roads. There were financial consequences for the contractors if the works traffic veered off the route agreed upon, or if there was any other damage to the vulnerable landscape.
The contractors were also required to restore the natural vegetation to any areas sustaining damage during construction. The topsoil was stored in landfills during construction of the road and tunnels, and was later replaced. This method for natural revegetation has proven both effective and environmentally friendly.
Lofast is the largest road system in Europe that has committed fully to revegetation.
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Facts about the project |
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Project name |
E10 – Lofoten connection to the mainland – Parcel Raftsundet - Ingelsfjord tunnel |
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Employer |
Public Roads Administration |
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Type of project |
Road and tunnels |
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Location |
Vesterålen and Lofoten islands, Norway |
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Contract period |
August 2004 – November 2006 |
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Form of contract |
Main contractor |
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Value |
NOK 168 million |
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Description |
This second stage of the Lofast project was 29 kilometers long and crossed three municipalities from west to east: Hadsel, Lødingen, and Kvæfjord. LNS worked two different contracts in Lofast II, the distance between Raftsundet and the Ingelsfjord tunnel, as well as the Ingelsfjord tunnel itself. The former involved the establishment of and rock support for the Raftsund and Storå tunnels and construction of the road from Raftsundet to the Ingelsfjord tunnel, as well as the construction of the Storå bridge, Storå culvert, and the Dalelva bridge. The E10 Ingelsfjord tunnel project covered the distance between Ingelsfjord and Vesterstraumen. The Ingelsfjord tunnel is 1,310 meters long.
The Raftsundet – Ingelsfjord tunnel project was completed on November 30, 2006.
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