Large roadworks kick off across the country

Motorists across the country will need to ease up on the accelerator on several of the nation’s key highways in the coming years as the Danish Road Directorate, backed by billions from an ambitious infrastructure plan, begins numerous road projects.

This year and next, projects amounting to 5.5 billion DKK are being sent out to tender, says Erik Stoklund Larsen, Director of Construction from the Danish Road Directorate.

– Motorists on the roads will experience that we are present with roadworks virtually all over the country on the primary arteries, where we are improving capacity, he says.

The roads are being expanded to keep up with the increasing number of cars and congestion challenges.

Expect no problems
The projects are not expected to cause issues while underway, states the director of construction.

– We plan the work so that we maintain the capacity that exists. Of course, there will be a speed reduction, but our experience is actually that motorists often do not experience longer travel times.

– Of course, there will be times when we perform works with one lane open, but we plan this in relation to the traffic, so we do everything we can not to inconvenience the road users, he says.

Expands “The Great H”
The Danish motorway network is referred to as “The Great H” due to the shape the motorways draw across the country.

Several motorway sections will be expanded or extended.

The projects will start in the course of 2024 and 2025. Several of them extend all the way to 2028, when they will be put into use.

– We are working down by Kolding, between Vejle and Skanderborg, north of Aarhus, and by Randers. So along this entire stretch, motorists will experience roadworks in the coming years, and they can already see it now.

– On Zealand, the Hillerød Motorway is being extended, and a motorway is being established all the way to Kalundborg. Later, the Amager Motorway will be expanded, says Erik Stoklund Larsen.

On Funen, the Funen Motorway will be expanded south of Odense in 2025.

70 projects this year and next
– We are starting up 70 major projects in total this year and next. That means we have completed our planning and design. We have gone out and expropriated land for the constructions and are actually ready to get started along with the contractors, says Erik Stoklund Larsen.

Several other major projects are planned in the years after 2025.

Plan at DKK 160 billion
The expansion of the infrastructure was decided by a wide political majority in the summer of 2021, when an infrastructure plan with a total value of 160 billion DKK was adopted.

The plan also allocates billions to strengthen public transport. For example, with new railway sections.

Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen (S) called the plan historically significant at the time, but it also received criticism from several sides for focusing too much on asphalt and too little on public transport and the climate.

At the motorists’ organization FDM, department head Torben Lund Kudsk calls it crucial and important projects if mobility is to be maintained in Denmark.

– When you look at the forecasts for traffic development, it’s clear that we’re driving more and more, and we’re also driving more in the same places.

– So, we’re going to end up in even longer queues if we don’t develop and extend the capacity on the roads, he says.

Facts: New roads and rail tracks for billions

• The Infrastructure Agreement from 2021 runs until 2035 and covers projects for 160 billion DKK.
• 64 billion DKK is allocated to road projects, including expansions of motorways and construction of new ones.
• 86 billion DKK is allocated to public transport. About 45 billion DKK for new train solutions.
• 11 billion DKK is allocated to major projects such as a third Limfjord connection.
• Three billion DKK is set aside for cycling initiatives, such as new bike lanes.
• A series of green initiatives like climate-friendly asphalt, installation of charging stations, etc.

Source: Ministry of Finance.

/ritzau/