With the “salmon” bridge, Metrostav is among the best constructions in Norway

A majestic bridge spanning a romantic fjord and connecting two road tunnels has won the hearts of Norwegians, despite the fact that the inhabitants of Europe’s most mountainous country are used to such structures. The story of a favourite salmon’s quicker journey to the plate may have played a part. The so-called Salmon Route made it to the final of the prestigious Norwegian Building of the Year competition. We will find out whether it will go on to win at the award ceremony at the end of June. It could be a source of national pride again, as the building bears the signature of the largest Czech construction company Metrostav.

“Norway is a country of bridges and tunnels. It owes this to both its huge ruggedness and mountainous terrain and its willingness to invest heavily in the development of transport infrastructure. Thanks to this, technically and architecturally extremely successful buildings are built every year, of which the local population is rightly proud. I have spent ten years of honest and sometimes a little adventurous building in Scandinavia. Just being in the final of the Norwegian Building of the Year competition is a dream come true for me,” says Aleš Gothard, Chairman of the Board of Metrostav Norge AS, which built the building.

The most technically remarkable and aesthetically valuable part of the construction was the first Czech bridge in Scandinavia. The 735-metre-long structure required a unique method of foundation using reinforced concrete wells due to the variable subsoil. The project also included the construction of the Slørdal tunnel, which, thanks to its length of 2,650 m, became the longest Czech road tunnel in Norway, and the slightly shorter Mjønes tunnel (over 700 m). Metrostav completed and handed over the construction completely at the beginning of 2021.

The contract brought many unexpected experiences for the Czech builders. In addition to the minting under the lakes, there was also a special aerial mission during the spring lockdown in 2020, and the discovery of a surprising treasure that was released by the earth itself. While building the Mjønes tunnel, the miners came across the rare pink mineral thulite, which represents one of Norway’s national symbols and is a common component of jewellery.

A set of two new tunnels and a new bridge over the fjord have enriched the Fv. 714 road, which forms an important transport link between Trondheim and the island of Hitra. It is known as the Salmon Route because more than a third of all Norwegian salmon is transported along this route. Until now, trucks have been driving fish along the winding road around the fjords. Thanks to the new nearly six-kilometre stretch, traffic is now significantly more comfortable, safer and faster.

Even after the completion of this award-winning project, Metrostav continues its long-term presence on the Norwegian market. In Bergen, it is now completing a tunnel for trains, cyclists and pedestrians.

Contact details

Vojtěch Kostiha
Spokesman of Metrostav Group
Metrostav a.s. Koželužská 2450/4 180 00 Praha 8
T 266 019 715, M 606 629 225, vojtech.kostiha@metrostav.cz, www.metrostav.cz