Amazing Construction of North Atlantic Ocean Road
Articles > Amazing Construction of North Atlantic Ocean RoadConstruction of the North Atlantic Ocean Road:
This is an 8.3-kilometer-long road that connects Averoy Municipality with the Romsdalshalvøya peninsula. This road runs across the archipelago in Averoy Municipalities and an unsheltered part of the Norwegian Sea called Hustadvika. The construction of this road started on August 1, 1983. It is built on several small islands and skerries (very small rock island, which is too small for human habitation), which are connected by intra-sea bridges, causes-ways, and via-ducts. The most famous bridge on the North Atlantic Ocean Road is Storseisundet Bridge.
In 20the century, a route via railway line was proposed to connect the Averoy Municipality and Romsdalshalvoya Island, but due to serious causes, the plan of the railway was canceled and work of road construction in 1983. Serious challenges were faced during construction. According to a report, about 12 European Windstorm hit the area of construction, which hindered the progress of work. This road was completed in a period of 6 years (1989) at a cost of 122 million NOK (Norwegian Krone).
Route Description of the Road:
An 8.274-kilometer (5.141 mi) long North Atlantic Road is a section of County Road 64 that connects the municipality of Averøy and island with the mainland at Eide. The road extends to the north while crossing the skerries and archipelago of partially sheltered with human habitat and runs across a section of the sea with Hustadvika in North and Lauvoyfjorden in the south. 21 ft wide road has a maximum gradient of eight percent. There are eight bridges and four resting resorts and several tourist points on the road. The tourist sites include dining, fishing, and scuba diving resorts, which have been established on the islands gradually after the completion of the road. The road along with section Vevang to Bud has been included in the 18 National Tourist Routes.
The road escorts from Utheim near Karvag village of Averoy and runs onward Kuhulmen Island and passes over the bridge of Little Lauroysund (bridge), which is 115 meters long. Bridges of Store Lauvhomen, Geitoya bridge (viewpoint and parking), Eldhusoya, and Lyngholmen present a charming viewpoint while traveling through the road.
Bridges of North Atlantic Ocean Road:
There are eight adorable bridges on North Atlantic Road which connects the island and skerries of small size, thus joining the isolated parts of the archipelago. These bridges are mentioned in the following lines:
1. The Storseisundet Bridge: It is a cantilever bridge that is 260 meters long. It is the longest of the eight bridges of North Atlantic Road, which connects the mainland Romsdal peninsula to the island of Averøya in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
2. Little Lauvøysund Bridge: This bridge is 115 meters long and 7 meters high and 7 meters wide.
3. Store Lauvholmen Bridge: This bridge is 52 meters long and 3 meters high.
4. Geitøysund Bridge: The bridge of Geitoysund is 52 meters long and 6 meters at its top height and 6.5 meters in width.
5. Three Hulvågen Bridges: This is a series of three bridges. All these three bridges are 293 meters long and 4 meters high.
6. Vevangstraumen Bridge: Vevangstraumen is another long bridge with a length of 119 meters and 10 meters in height and 6 meters in width.
Norwegian Construction of Century:
As the construction of North Atlantic Road was, indeed, a masterpiece of civil engineering. Thus, the North Atlantic Ocean Road was named Norwegian Construction of the Century in 2005. This award was sponsored by NRK (the national broadcaster) and the Norwegian construction industry on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. In 2005, the Atlantic Road has been named the Norwegian Construction of the Century. During the last 100 years till 2005, it was the amazing civil engineering scheme in Norway. NRK and UT.no called this road as “Norway’s Best Bicycle Trip Road” some year later to 2005. Fifth Gear called the road (in 2011) “the world’s best place for car testing” and turned the North Atlantic Ocean Road as the hotspot for filming/movie shootings.
Rest Areas beside Atlantic Ocean Road:
While traveling through the Atlantic Ocean Road you come across many rest areas and touring resorts. Among which some are most prominent which are as under.
- Askevagen Viewing Platform: This is point constructed during the construction of the road provides an opportunity to view the road in a close encounter. Askevagen is an open glass chamber with a thick concrete floor. The glass-walled chamber prevents the sea waves to harm the viewer.
- Kjeksa Viewing Platform: Kjeksa is a viewing and rest area with a trail platform. Viewing from the rest area of Kjeksa a magnificent and glorying panorama gives a charming splendor of sea. There is another trail which leads to the water edge, where the tourist enjoy fishing.
- Geitoya Island: The terrain connecting the archipelago by means of bridges offers plenty of chances to take picturesque photos. There is a well-known fishing village namely Haholmen, which is accessed by means of a boat.
- Myrbaerholmbrua (Rest place): Several bridges run each side of the Myrbaerholmbrua bridge, which are specially meant for fishing. Anglers try fishing in a safe surrounding. These fishing bridges are bracketed with safety walls to give protection to the visitors against falling down into the deep water.
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