There are still large cordons around the several hundred meter sinkhole that appeared on and around the heavily trafficked E6 in Stenungsund after a landslide.
Tens of thousands of vehicles use the road daily, according to the Swedish Transport Administration, which now fears traffic chaos and long queues when the traffic starts properly on Monday after the weekend that was.
– It is therefore good if you can wait with work commuting during rush hour tomorrow morning, says the Swedish Transport Agency’s press spokesperson, Bengt Olsson.
– The way it looks now, we are pointing to roads that can handle heavier traffic. And we hope they do. But at the same time we know that the drivers are quite inventive and try to find their own ways, says Olsson.
The Swedish Transport Administration has set up cameras at the site of the landslide which “hopefully” will make it possible to redirect traffic if necessary.
Considering investigation
The National Accident Commission is currently considering starting an investigation into the landslide at E6.
– It is a large-scale event and we are following developments closely. We are in contact with the relevant authorities and are collecting information to be able to decide whether we should start an investigation, says the Norwegian Accident Commission’s director general, John Ahlberk to TV4 Nyheterna.
Curious at the cordoned off area
During the night to Sunday, several curious people made it to the site and bypassed the cordons. Something that is associated with great risks, according to the rescue service, which warns that the cordoned off area around the landslide is still dangerous.
– I urge the public to respect the barriers that are in place, says Lars Magnusson, regional operations leader to TV4 Nyheterna.
The risk of new landslides is not yet over.
– There could be landslides, and if you go near the edges there is a risk of being dragged along, warns the task leader.
The road may have moved 50 meters
Large parts of the landscape may have moved in the landslide, according to the rescue service.
– It looked like the road had been moved up 50 metres, says Anton Wikensten at the rescue service to the TT news agency.
During the night of Sunday and Saturday morning, the emergency services worked to investigate the affected gas station to ascertain whether a leak may have occurred. It has currently been ruled out that it would constitute environmental damage, writes the rescue service.
– Our biggest work will be linked to the municipality, the Swedish Transport Administration and those who conduct business in this area, regarding how they should continue to work to be able to access their properties and repair infrastructure that has been damaged, says Lars Magnusson to TV4 Nyheterna.