Martin Sandberg lives right next to the intersection on the old E20 which is now being rebuilt for connection to Nossebro and to the new E20. When a new curve is built, the Swedish Transport Administration has used old asphalt as filling material.
– We are worried because it is within a beach-protected area, which is closest to 50 meters from Nossan, which then flows into Lake Vänern. Asphalt is asphalt and is hardly environmentally friendly, he says.
No natural substances
Vårgårda municipality’s deputy environmental manager is doubtful about the procedure and has announced a stop to construction. Her attitude is that it is mandatory to report using waste as filling material, even if the waste is not environmentally hazardous.
– It is not hazardous waste, but it is waste and contains no natural substances, says Carolina Theen, deputy environmental manager.
“Shows good values”
The Swedish Transport Administration has replied that they are ready and still had not intended to fill with more old asphalt.
– We have sampled the material and it shows good values. It is not environmentally dangerous, says Marita Karlsson, project manager at the Swedish Transport Administration.
Now both the construction and the deputy environmental manager are taking vacation. Only in August will the municipality take a decision on whether and, if so, how the case should be taken further.
Two police reports
Both Martin Sandberg and Vårgårda municipality have reported the matter to the police. According to the Environmental Code, the municipality is obliged to report to the police if someone starts a notifiable activity without reporting it. It could then be an environmental crime.
– But it is unclear whether it will be assessed that way because the Swedish Transport Administration had contact with the municipality in 2021 and then received an unclear message about what applies, says Carolina Theen.
On Thursday, the residents of the area discovered that asphalt residues had been placed in a rest area a few kilometers away from the intersection.