Headline: Riksvei 7 through Hallingdal to be Debt-Free Four Years Early; Politicians Push for Extension
Subhead: The new highway stretch between Sokna in Ringerike and Ørgenvika in Krødsherad is set to be paid off by February, but local politicians want the tolls to continue for another four years.
The new highway stretch between Sokna in Ringerike and Ørgenvika in Krødsherad is set to be paid off on February 28, ten years after its opening, due to higher-than-expected traffic. However, politicians from the region, backed by local business leaders, are asking for the tolls to be extended for another four years to fund further improvements to the road.
Varaordfører Stian Bakken (Sp) from Ringerike municipality told Nettavisen, "The toll should remain. It was supposed to be in place for four more years, which many motorists had prepared for. So these four years are, in a way, a bonus. If it helps to make the roads in Hallingdal even better, it’s a positive thing for motorists."
The current toll fee for cars with an Autopass stored-value card is NOK 68.80, with a full price of NOK 86.00, which will remain unchanged if the politicians have their way.
However, not everyone agrees with the extension. Vegard Persvold, group leader of the Fremskrittspartiet (Frp) in the Ringerike municipality council, is clear: "The toll must go. It applies to the stretch from Sokna to Ørgenvika, and if a new financing arrangement is in place, we believe it should be a separate issue."
Persvold welcomes the fact that the road is to be paid off early but insists that it should then be free to use: "Frp is generally against tolls. We believe that road building should be financed through the state budget, not through tolls. It’s possible to find money in the state budget."
Before the toll can be extended, it needs to be approved by the Norwegian Parliament. A majority in the affected municipalities and Buskerud County Municipality has already given their consent.
Bakken acknowledges that this could be seen as a pilot project, but expresses his hope that the Storting will approve the extension.
Image Caption: The increased traffic on the new stretch of Riksvei 7 between Sokna and Ørgenvika has led to an early payoff of the construction costs. (Photo: Knut Andreas Ramsrud)
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