The E6 at Stenungsund has been inaugurated with royal presence.
Just over nine months after the landslide, the road has now been restored.
– We had to do it in a safe way, says Roberto Maiorana, Director General of the Swedish Transport Administration.
During Wednesday, the first ride on the newly laid asphalt was taken by King Carl XVI Gustaf in front of representatives of, among others, the government and Stenungsund municipality.
– It felt great. Lovely to be completely alone on a road for once. It’s the kind of thing you would have every day, says the king himself to TV4 Nyheterna.
It was on September 23 last year that a landslide caused the destruction of a 400-meter stretch of the highway at the height of Stenungsund. An area on the side of the road was also affected.
“The work has flowed well”
– The first challenge we faced was getting into the area after the landslide. It took some time. We had to do it in a safe way, says Roberto Maiorana, Director General of the Swedish Transport Administration.
The early forecasts indicated that it would take a year to rebuild the road, but it went faster than that.
– I think it is right to call it exceptional. The work has flowed well.
We have used work methods that have enabled us to work this quickly, says Trafikverket director general Roberto Maiorana.
Welcome opening
The road has been described as having a key role for transport in Western Sweden and Norway. That it is now restored is welcome. So also among the villagers. For just over nine months, many of the 20,000 vehicles that used to cross the road every day have had to be led through the community.
– There has been an unbearable amount of traffic. Now we celebrate with sausages and bread for the locals who live there, says Mattias Ottosson.
Although the premiere tour was taken today by the King, the E6 will not reopen to the public until Friday morning.
Facts: The landslide in Stenungsund
(TT)
On 23 September 2023 at 01:20 the landslide started at E6 at the height of Stenungsund. The first alarm came in to SOS Alarm at 01:46. The landslide caused extensive damage to the road and nearby buildings.
In February 2024, the Swedish Transport Administration makes a forecast that the road will be ready “sometime between early autumn and the turn of the year”.
On March 27, 2024, the prosecutor announced to prosecutor Daniel Veivo Pettersson that three people are suspected of gross public negligence, gross causing bodily harm and unauthorized environmental activities. The investigation is ongoing.
On April 23, the Swedish Transport Agency announced that they are ahead of schedule and that the road will be opened during the summer.
On July 3, 2024, King Carl XVI Gustaf will inaugurate the repaired stretch of road.
On July 5 at 06.00, traffic will be released.