From:The Local: Sweden's news in English Congestion charge returns to Stockholm

Published: 1st August 2007 08:36 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/8059/

Congestion charging has been reintroduced in Stockholm, more than a year after a six month trial of the scheme ended.

The scheme, which is legally a congestion tax, means drivers will have to pay between 10 and 20 kronor every time they pass one of the electronic pay stations on the perimeter of the zone. Drivers will be charged Monday-Friday between 6:30am and 6:29pm, and the daily cost will be capped at 60 kronor per car. At the Swedish National Road Administration (Vägverket), which administers the charge, initial signs were that the reintroduction was going according to plan.

"The first ten minutes looked OK and everything seems to be going well," said the organization's spokeswoman, Louise Jarn Melander to news agency TT.

The charge has been brought back following a referendum last September, in which 52 percent voted in favour of the charge, while 45 percent opposed it. Stockholm council's newly-elected centre-right majority, led by Major Kristina Axén Olin, vowed to push for the result to be respected. This despite the fact that all but one of the centre-right parties argued against the charge.

There will be a number of key differences between the new arrangements and those during last year's trial. One change is that the transponders - electronic devices used in the trial to make it possible to take the charge directly out of drivers' accounts - will not be used. Instead, cameras will read cars' plates, and those vehicles whose drivers are registered will have the money debited directly from their accounts.

Other drivers, as before, will have to pay the charge within 14 days of driving in the zone. This can be done online, at Pressbyrån or 7-Eleven stores or in banks.

Another key difference is that taxis will no longer be exempted from paying the charge. A number of taxi operators have already said they plan to increase charges as a result. The charge will be tax-deductable for some companies and commuters. :ohno: Worse city in Sweden.

Ofcourse Stockholmians like the charge. But when you got a poll in the suburban area's, the outcome would be totally different.

Stockholms infrastructure is not very extensive, considering the city's size. There is only one north-south Motorway; the E4 that has over 120.000 AADT. It also goes right through the center of Stockholm, it has 2x3 lanes, and is very curvy.

http://i12.tinypic.com/4kcma1u

^^ From swedish wiki... Sveriges mest trafikerade motorväg är Essingeleden i Stockholm. I början av år 2005 körde cirka 150 000 fordon dagligen på leden. Därefter kommer Tingstadstunneln och ned till Olskroksmotet i Göteborg med runt 120 000 bilar dagligen "Essingeleden" part of E4-Stockholm has 150 000 AADT(JAN 2005) and Tingstadstunneln (göteborg) had 120 000 at that time. I know that it's a lot more traffic now, plus after the congestion charge returnd(AUG 07), it's up another 5-10% .Essingeleden(E4) is free of charge so more people use it now than just a week ago. The city is hell anyway, so I'll rather visit Göteborg than Stockholm.

But Stockholm has quite extensive commuter rail and metro network. I know what Chris is going to say now: a car is faster. Well, I took the train from Central Station to a hotel in Spnga 12 minutes. By car it tooks almost 30 minutes.

Extensive or not, such a large city always generates a lot of car traffic, no matter how incredible or huge the local mass transit is. The city has 1.913.000 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area.
Because of the geography in the region, all through traffic has to go right through Stockholm, hence the traffic jams.

Considering, all entrances are over bridges, the road network is very sensitive for traffic jams.

Extensive or not, such a large city always generates a lot of car traffic, no matter how incredible or huge the local mass transit is. The city has 1.913.000 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area.
Because of the geography in the region, all through traffic has to go right through Stockholm, hence the traffic jams.

Considering, all entrances are over bridges, the road network is very sensitive for traffic jams.

In the spirit of the environmentalists, our people would never build extensive motorways anyway...

I read that Stockholm had plans to build a beltway around the city decades ago, but still haven't finished building.

What about foreign drivers? Do they need to pay congestion tax as well?

What about foreign drivers? Do they need to pay congestion tax as well?

No, foreign vechiles are not punished with this terrible tax. The roadinfrastructure in this city is very underdeveloped. The major approachroutes are (1) E4 north with 3-4 lanes, (2) E18 north with 3 lanes, (3) Rv222 Värmdöleden with 3 lanes, (4) Rv73 Nynäsvägen with 3 lanes. (5) E4/E20 south 4 lanes, (6) E18 west 2 lanes, (7) Drottningholmsvägen west 2 lanes., (8) Lidingövägen 2-3 lanes. At least, they should have one extra lane in each direction to meet the demand. There are NO ciruclar road. There are one (western) bypass, Essingeleden, in one part with ONLY 2+2. The southern bypass, Södra länken, is built in a tunnel with 2-3 lanes in each direction, 5 km built in 2005. This tunnel is allready crowded and have been closed 2 times allready this week.. The northern bypass, Norra Länken, U/C will be finished 2015, 2-3 lanes. I think its allready underestimated. The eastern bypass has been under soo much presure from the parklovers. At the same time, the most important project left to be built in Sweden.

The outer bypass which been discussed is a 3+3-tunnel stretching from Häggvik to Skärholmen. Mostly in 20 km:s of tunnels and 2 major bridges.

Latest figures: AADT 170.000 for Essingeleden in last week. Does Congestion charges make sense?

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1298&a=686564

Some weekly figures don't say anything. It could be that a lot of people returning from holiday or stuff like that. Annual figures are the way to measure how busy a road is, split up in weekdays and workday figures. Capacitywise, you should adjust your road network to the workday figures.

Latest figures: AADT 170.000 for Essingeleden in last week. Does Congestion charges make sense?

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1298&a=686564

Perhaps they should try to get that friggin bypass built earlier than 2020.

^^ I wouldn't hope for that too much. History learns that.

Sweden has an extensive system of motorways (motorväg in Swedish) in the southern third of the country. The first motorway (Malmö–Lund) was opened in 1953 and new motorways have been built in a slow but steady pace ever since, somewhat faster after 1990. The motorways' primary purpose is connecting major cities to their surrounding areas, although there is a long-term ambition to connect Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö with motorways.

With the completion of a couple of new motorway stretches in 2006 and 2007 an interconnecting motorway network exists from Öresund Bridge (to Denmark) in the south to Uddevalla north of Gothenburg, and to Gävle north of Stockholm.

There are also a number of motortrafikleder (semi-motorways, autostrasse), roads with only 2 or 3 (2+1) lanes but to which the same conditions apply as to motorways (i.e. grade-separated crossings, no slow traffic). These can be converted to motorways by adding a parallel road.

The speed limit on motorways is generally 110 km/h (68 mph). 90 and 70 is often used on city motorways. There is a test on a part of the E6, where the limit is set to 120 km/h, but electronic signs can show a lower limit in bad weather.

E6 Malmö - Helsingborg

Malmö - Landskrona - Helsingborg - Bjuv (E4)
http://i20.tinypic.com/2jfubm.png
This serie goes from the southern side of Malmö, where the E6 from Trelleborg joines us, via the eastern side of Malmö and over Landskrona to Helsingborg, where i took a short stretch of E4, which has horrible concrete pavement, a lot of deformations here

Malmö - Helsingborg -> 110 pictures (http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris/E6MalmHelsingborg)

So we finally got our own thread! :D

Thanks for the pictures Chris, much appreciated. This part of the E20 is very low-quality, with some horrible exit ramps. :)

OMG these must be the coolest signs I have ever seen!!!
http://lh6.google.nl/ASWchris/Rv6Qj6Ggr2I/AAAAAAAAHqE/UG-tCZr0l1E/foto%20261.jpg?imgmax=512

^^ A bit too much clutter on some, if you ask me.

Sweden has an extensive system of motorways (motorväg in Swedish) in the southern third of the country. The first motorway (Malmö–Lund) was opened in 1953 and new motorways have been built in a slow but steady pace ever since, somewhat faster after 1990. The motorways' primary purpose is connecting major cities to their surrounding areas, although there is a long-term ambition to connect Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö with motorways.

With the completion of a couple of new motorway stretches in 2006 and 2007 an interconnecting motorway network exists from Öresund Bridge (to Denmark) in the south to Uddevalla north of Gothenburg, and to Gävle north of Stockholm.

There are also a number of motortrafikleder (semi-motorways, autostrasse), roads with only 2 or 3 (2+1) lanes but to which the same conditions apply as to motorways (i.e. grade-separated crossings, no slow traffic). These can be converted to motorways by adding a parallel road.

The speed limit on motorways is generally 110 km/h (68 mph). 90 and 70 is often used on city motorways. There is a test on a part of the E6, where the limit is set to 120 km/h, but electronic signs can show a lower limit in bad weather.
oMG ..the swedes arent really chekas...what?anyway,why is it so slow,i mean volvos and saabs can go pretty fast!

110 is indeed extremely slow, considering the low amount of traffic (except Stockholm and Göteborg), and the huge distances.

Nice pix, Chris! What's "trafikplats" though? And why is there no braking lane in Sweden?!

Swedish roads are quite American-like, they usually have no braking lanes too.

Trafikplats is not necessary an interchange of motorways, but can be any larger junction. Not all junctions are signed "Trafikplats" though.

110 is indeed extremely slow, considering the low amount of traffic (except Stockholm and Göteborg), and the huge distances.

Although people are usually driving well above 110 km/h on motorways here.

Interestingly the E45 in Norrland is also 110 km/h. :nuts:

This is the E45 :lol:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6669/e45betweensorseleandslajs2.jpg

^ Sooo romantic. :) But if it was a cow, it would look backwards. :D

New E4 motorway through Uppland open for traffic

http://svt.se/content/1/c6/94/29/79/ABC_E4_380.jpg

A new part of the E4 motorway was finally inagurated on Wednesday afternoon. About 15 000 cars will use the 80 km long motorway daily. The new stretch has 9 interchanges, 102 bridges and 3 rest areas. A small part was inagurated late last year. The road is already being criticized for having narrow lanes, on the other hand property prices in these northern cities have already started to rise.

The newly constructed stretch makes the E4 a continous motorway from the northern city of Gävle to the southern port of Helsingborg.



http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7828/nyae4lc9.png (http://imageshack.us)


Bypass of Uppsala; the bypass will cary an ADT of 25.000;

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/88/1nyae4forbiuppsalajh5.png

Concrete pavement, a rare sight in this country.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4505/1nyae4forbiuppsala2to9.png (http://imageshack.us)

Asphalt vs concrete, picture from before the opening;

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9835/1nyae4forbiuppsala3xl1.png (http://imageshack.us)

Asphalt pavement...Is it shiny enough? :D

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2597/1nyae4forbiuppsala4cp4.png (http://imageshack.us)

Trafikplats (=IC) Tierp

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5076/12trafikplatsrastplatsobu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


The old road and the new motorway connecting to the existing motorway at Trafikplats Mehedeby Syd.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5339/16nyaochgamlae4mehedebyzs3.png (http://imageshack.us)

^ Nice, filling gaps. :) How far to the north are your motorways planned?

Good news!

Actually the Uppsala bypass was already opened!
I have somo photo's of it, taken this February.
The motorway is covered in snow! :D

I'il post them tomorrow. ;)

The newly constructed stretch makes the E4 a continous motorway from the northern city of Gävle to the southern port of Helsingborg.

Aren't there any gaps between Stockholm and Malmö?

Viamichelin shows a gap near Ljungby, but the map posted online is probably from 2006.

Great news!

Next thing to do is a motorway between Stockholm and Gotenburg with no gaps (the Jönköping Boras is missing)!
Then maybe a Gotemburg-Oslo all in motorway.... and them maybe the Stockholm-Gotemburg conection via Örebro. :)

http://www.vv.se/templates/page3wide____18531.aspx Just click on the blue text for big pix, of the new Motorväg. Aren't there any gaps between Stockholm and Malmö? The worst part(40km near Ljungby) is 2+1 and 110 km/h

@ Nephasto; That is technically right; there's a 32 km stretch of 'motortrafikled' around Ljungby, It keeps the same standard and speed as the motorway but is a 2+1 road.



Next thing to do is a motorway between Stockholm and Gotenburg with no gaps (the Jönköping Boras is missing)!
Then maybe a Gotemburg-Oslo all in motorway.... and them maybe the Stockholm-Gotemburg conection via Örebro. :)

Very true. :) A new stretch of motorway of road 40 will open in the coming days, that will bring down the missing link between Göteborg and Stockholm to ~ 60 km. Unfortunately, I doubt we'll see that whole gap filled until sometime after 2015.

Looking forward to seeing your photos from Uppsala! :)

^ Nice, filling gaps. :) How far to the north are your motorways planned?

Not so much. Currently 2 short motorway stretches are planned through Norrland, one is a 22 km bypass around the city of Sundsvall and the other is a 25 km stretch between the cities of Enånger and Hudiksvall that was approved a few days ago. Both are on the E4. :)

^ So are you saying that (at least for now) there's no motorway planned between Gävle and Söderhamn, and is therefore the continuous motorway from Stockholm up north already finished (Stockholm-Gävle)? (not that motorways up there are desperately needed anyway)

^ That's right. There will be a 80 km gap then another 50 km motorway between Söderhamn and Hudiksvall.

I'd rather they spend more on roads in the south instead, like speeding up construction on the Göteborg-Stockholm link... although my wetest dream is to drive on a motorway following the coast all the way to Finland before I die. :banana:

I wonder why the speed limit is only 110km/h... It's really slow for such huge distances. The Swedish motorväger are excellent for a 130km/h limit.

what does the road between Norrtälje and Kappelskär look like? i guess it is 2 way road, but are there any villages on it or it doesnßt pass threw inhabitted places? and is there a plan or need to make motorway there?

The E18 between Norrtälje and Kapellskär has some villages on and nearby the road. However, that distance is quite short, some 25km i guess.

I'd rather they spend more on roads in the south instead, like speeding up construction on the Göteborg-Stockholm link...

:yes:


although my wetest dream is to drive on a motorway following the coast all the way to Finland before I die. :banana:

Hehe! :D

Well, I guess there's no point in constructing a motorway all the way up to the north. There's probably no need for it (not enough traffic), and it would probably have a quite negative environmental impact.



I wonder why the speed limit is only 110km/h... It's really slow for such huge distances. The Swedish motorväger are excellent for a 130km/h limit.

It may be related to the weather (lots of ice and snow in the roads). And besides, Swedes are always very safe, so 110 is more than enough! :colgate:

Foto's from the Uppsala bypass motorway (part of the E-4 motorway from Stockholm to Gävle)!
The photo's were taken on a viaduct (in the road from Uppsala to Gimo) and they are between the exits Uppsala center (or south or whatever) and Uppsala north (or whatever). On some picture you can see the signaling for the exit to Uppsala north.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4848.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4850.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4851.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4852.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4853.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4854.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4855.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4856.jpg


:cheers:

A new part of the E4 motorway was finally inagurated on Wednesday afternoon. About 15 000 cars will use the 80 km long motorway daily. The new stretch has 9 interchanges, 102 bridges and 3 rest areas. A small part was inagurated late last year. The road is already being criticized for having narrow lanes, on the other hand property prices in these northern cities have already started to rise.

Why is it being criticized for having narrow lanes? Are the lanes narrower than usual?
Do you know what's the lane width they used and whats the standard in Sweden?

Why is it being criticized for having narrow lanes? Are the lanes narrower than usual?
Do you know what's the lane width they used and whats the standard in Sweden?

If im not mistaken, normal for motorway is 21,5 m (3,5 m per lane). According to newspapers the road was made 2m narrower then what was planned, so that would be 19,5 m.

Thanks for the pics btw, must be harsh for those driving there daily with that unploughed left lane. :P

I wonder why the speed limit is only 110km/h... It's really slow for such huge distances. The Swedish motorväger are excellent for a 130km/h limit.

Agreed, when the weather allows.

I hope we can have smth like the french (http://www.frenchduck.co.uk/images/autoroutespeed.jpg) sooner or later, I think that should have been implemented long ago...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Nephasto/DSCN4852.jpg

Concrete motorway. Never seen that on Sweden motorways, only on E4 close to Helsingborg. Are there any other sections of concrete motorways in Sweden apart from above and in south?

The E4 section near Helsingborg is extremely deformated, and need a total repavement badly.

If im not mistaken, normal for motorway is 21,5 m (3,5 m per lane). According to newspapers the road was made 2m narrower then what was planned, so that would be 19,5 m.

Thanks for the pics btw, must be harsh for those driving there daily with that unploughed left lane. :P

What does that 21.5 stands for? Total motorway width (with no central reservation, just a Jersey barrier)?? Hum... maybe just the width of the lanes, ignoring the central reservation. It would be 10.75m per carriageway.
Let's see:

3+3.5+3.5+0,75 ?? Maybe 2,5+3,5+3,5+1,25 ??


With 19.5 it woud be 9.75 per carriageway:

2,5+3,25+3,25+0,75 ??

:dunno:

^^ :dunno: 21,5 was what I found on the VV (national road authorities) website. For the life of me I can never get these figures right, so I better not mislead you. :lol:

EDIT:

Seems 21,5 m is for that particular motorway I was checking.

Eitherway the new E4 is 18,5 m which is considered a "narrow motorway" here. The emergency lanes are 2 m instead of the normal 2,75 m making it unsafe in case of truck-breakdowns.

Concrete motorway. Never seen that on Sweden motorways, only on E4 close to Helsingborg. Are there any other sections of concrete motorways in Sweden apart from above and in south? Well, E6 from Laholm to about Kungsbacka is mostly concrete. I think there is some concrete on the E22 near Kristanstad. When I learn how to upload pix, I show you the E6 section with "good"(not like E4) concrete pavment and speed limit 120.

Well, E6 from Laholm to about Kungsbacka is mostly concrete. I think there is some concrete on the E22 near Kristanstad. When I learn how to upload pix, I show you the E6 section with "good"(not like E4) concrete pavment and speed limit 120.

för att posta bilder; 1. ladda up bilderna på http://www.imageshack.us 2. kopiera och klistra in länken till "Hotlink for forums (1)" här. hoppas det hjälpte. :D

^ So are you saying that (at least for now) there's no motorway planned between Gävle and Söderhamn, and is therefore the continuous motorway from Stockholm up north already finished (Stockholm-Gävle)? (not that motorways up there are desperately needed anyway)

Wait a minute: isn't there a motorway between Gävle and Hamrånge? Or at least a 4-lane expressway, as well as between Hamrånge and Söderhamn?

Swedish is a nice language :D i can read the above :)

To post images; 1 upload a image to imageshack 2 copy and paste the link "thumbnails for forums" and you're ready.

However, if the image is not to large (less than 800px wide) i would do a hotlink instead of a thumbnail. But not when you have 100 pics to show.

Wait a minute: isn't there a motorway between Gävle and Hamrånge? Or at least a 4-lane expressway, as well as between Hamrånge and Söderhamn?

It's a 2+1 Motortrafikled ( = "motortrafficroad"/autostrasse) til Hamrånge (or Tönnebro to be more precise) then it turns into a regular 2+1 road with same level crossings all the way to Söderhamn, where it turns to whats got to be the crappiest motorway of this country. :lol:

^ Ok, thanks, then Map24 is wrong. :lol:

Not exactly Swedish motorway subject, but still interesting: The legendary "Getaway in Stockholm":
fzjAepptbQI

^^ Sightseeing Stockholm in 16 minutes...

I found this movie about some crazy stunt to fly with a little aircraft in a big tunnel in Stockholm.:nuts:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=W-QJLOVLg7M

What? :lol: Nice cavern.

A discrace for Sweden is E20 between Göteborg and Stockholm. A big part of it isn't a real motorway, especially the part between Alingsås and Vretstorp outside Örebro. :ohno:

^^Well, not a real motorway, not even a fake one. :D
Just a road. It may be a good road and they may call it something fancy, but in the end it's just a road.

So yes, that motorway must be built in the next years!

Öresund Bridge
sorry the weather was awful.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm138.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm139.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm140.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm141.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm142.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/Bluka/skandinavija/Malm143.jpg

E18 Stockholm - Enköping

http://i1.tinypic.com/8abx1lu.png

A photoserie of the E18, from Stockholm to Enköping, 70km to the west. Pics taken late November, by Dutch forumers Frits and IQ[] on their holiday in Stockholm.

169 pics -> picasa webalbum (http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris2/E18StockholmEnkPing)

E4 Essingeleden Stockholm

http://lh5.google.nl/ASWchris2/R1KqOCNGFvI/AAAAAAAAEFU/Ss9PnhtkaNk/000%20Route.jpg?imgmax=720

The Essingeleden is the busiest motorway in Sweden, and the only motorway to the north through Stockholm. The motorway is partially 2x3 and 2x4 lanes. These pics were also taken by Dutch forumers Frits and IQ[] on their holiday in Stockholm late November.

33 pics -> Picasa webalbum (http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris2/E4EssingeledenStockholm)

E18 Enköping - Stockholm

http://lh5.google.nl/ASWchris2/R1KtSCNGHrI/AAAAAAAAEVU/wlCSs9yiZYE/000%20Route.jpg?imgmax=720

The way back from Enköping to Stockholm. Also taken by fellow Dutch forumers Frits & IQ[].

123 pics -> picasa webalbum (http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris2/E18EnkPingStockholm)

E4 Stockholm - Sodertälje - Nyköping - Oxelösund

http://lh4.google.nl/ASWchris2/R1WilCNGLTI/AAAAAAAAEz4/ec0pamRPTF0/000%20Route.jpg?imgmax=720

This one travels south from Stockholm, through the southern suburbs to rural Sweden, heading for Nyköping. Distances are long. In Nyköping we take a local expressway to harbor town Oxelösund.

E4 -> 230 pics (http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris2/E4StockholmOxelSund)

Thanks for the pictures chris.

http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris2/E4EssingeledenStockholm/photo#5139357141135922834

Oh that's neat. :lol:

New Swedish twin tunnel

Skanska is building two tunnels in Swedish capital Stockholm for the new Northern Link bypass. The 44 million Euro contract is being carried out for the Swedish National Road Administration and involves the construction of a 1km, twin tunnel section. This will link the E4 expressway with the Norrtull intersection in Stockholm. Part of the section passes under the Karolinska Hospital and Eugenia Tunnel. The project involves a total of 600m of rock tunnel and 230m of concrete tunnel, with related roads and groundwork. Preparatory work has started and the project is due for completion in five years. The Northern Link, will be 5km long, is one of Sweden’s largest road projects and stretches between Norrtull and Värtan on the north side of the city, with connections to the Roslagsvägen thoroughfare at Stockholm University. The Northern Link is intended to improve traffic flow and environment in the area through reducing the noise level and nitrous oxide amounts.

these motorways, while not quite extensive, DO like really nice. :)

Quite a few stretches of motorway are opening on the E18 this year. The E18 goes btwn Stockholm and Olso through Karlstad. The largest stretch currently under construction is 19 km long and connects to the existing E18/E20 junction close to Örebro.

http://www.vv.se/filer/20864/lekhyttan_s.gif

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4511/vk6a0216gz0lc4.jpg

Trafikplats Via
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1399/vk6a0266za3.jpg

New E18/old E18 near Sanna
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6240/vk6a0337cx4.jpg

Junction at Örebro airport
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7564/vk6a0356rm1.jpg

Trafikplats Berglunda
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3757/vk6a0377qi8.jpg

Is there a plan to connect Stockholm and Oslo with motorway? Would it even be profitable?

Is there a plan to connect Stockholm and Oslo with motorway? Would it even be profitable?

No, plans are that from Norrtälje and Stockholm all the way to Segmon will be a continuous motorway or 2+2 motorroad. The last ~100 kms to the norweigan border will eventually be a 2+1 road.

^ Ok, seems more reasonable. :)

And now some summery photos of swedish motorways, sorry bout the low quality.. didnt realize they'll deteriate that much.

The new svinesund bridge, completed in 2005, borders between Sweden and Norway on the main highway E6.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2hg8pw5.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/scdhyg.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/BomstasjonSvinesund.jpg/800px-BomstasjonSvinesund.jpg

In winter :)

http://i26.tinypic.com/34smlfk.jpg

Some 100 kms to the south, the E6 crosses on the Uddevalla bridge:

http://i26.tinypic.com/oat8ag.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Uddevallabron.jpg/800px-

http://i32.tinypic.com/2qwq4ue.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/vcurv4.jpg

By 2012, the E6 will be a motorway all the way from Oslo to Gothenburg.
A project map of the parts missing - green: completed, blue: under construction, red: planned.


http://www.vv.se/filer/31701/E6_webb.jpg

is this toll station in Norway or Sweden?

File name says Bomstasjon, so i guess in Norway.

^ Well wiki says it's the swedish side, and zooming it in (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/BomstasjonSvinesund.jpg), the text "Gällande kort" is in swedish. Same as here:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/1390288543_de1032457d.jpg?v=0

I would just guess photographer was norweigan.

thems bridges are kewl.

The toll Plazas are at each side. You pay before the bridge. So there is one station at the Norwegian side, and one station at the Swedish side.

Incredible pics about the swedish highways!!!!

I'm always fan of Oresund Bridge!!!

That bridge is incredible, just majestic!!!

Greetings from Mexico!!!

Really have to try going along the E6 sometime, never driven on it really (other than in Skåne). :)

Will be really nice once the E6 is all motorway!

A new stretch of like 15km a bit north of Gothenburg opens mid-June this year, June 13 or 14 I think.

^^ When this happens, Norway will finally be connected with the European motorway network. North of Oslo, however, E6 will be motorway only for about 112 more km, so there is still about 2300 km to go before the whole E6 is motorway:)

E6 in Sweden menade jag. ;) With the motorway building pace of Norway being worse than even the poorest EU countries, it'll be loooong time before the E6 is all motorway. :P

What I really wish was for motorway Oslo-Stockholm!

It is improving though, with several E18 stretches opening this year. Värmland is also looking into making Karlstad-border with Karlskoga all motorway by 2020 and Karlstad-Norwegian border 2+1. That would be great!

I doubt if the E6 will ever will be completely motorway. Maybe up to Trondheim, but the E4 route through Sweden is shorter and faster to extreme northern Norway.

I doubt if the E6 will ever will be completely motorway. Maybe up to Trondheim, but the E4 route through Sweden is shorter and faster to extreme northern Norway.
I totally agree. In some stretches the E6 only have an AADT of a few hundred. Actually, even between Oslo and Trondheim most people (and almost all trucks) use an alternative and shorter route, Rv 3.

I wonder why the speed limit is only 110km/h... It's really slow for such huge distances. The Swedish motorväger are excellent for a 130km/h limit.And you get a huge speeding ticket €300 just for driving a couple of km to fast. :ohno:

Though i saw a lot of Swedes driving 120 - 130km/h on the E6. If i stick to the limit, i would be one of the slower ones (except trucks).

New Swedish laws as of January 1 allows for a maximum speed limit of 120. Some motorway stretches should be upgraded to that within the next few years.

100 (among other limts) was also added, and so some 110 non-motorway stretches will probably get downgraded to that.

^^That makes sense.

Do the current motorways need any upgrade to get the speed increased to 120km/s?!
Well, I guess there could be some tighter curves which would be appropriate to 110 and not 120 (although this probably doesn't happen... or if it does, it's probable rare)... and limiting those stretches to 100 would be enough.

Virtually all motorway stretches could take 120, I think. My guess is that a lot of stretches that are pretty countryside-ish may get 120, but also that a lot of the 2+1 type of roads that are 110 now may go down to 100, and 90 ones to 80, another new limit, in some tight stretches and such. They've actually downgraded a bunch of 90 ones to 70 in southern Sweden recently for more safety.

I saw the first new speed limit a couple weeks ago, 100 on a motorway stretch on the E18 near Stockholm... much to my surprise, to be honest, since this was an upgrade from 90 -- they tend to want to decrease instead of increase speed limits. :P

One cool thing is that more and more roads are getting the electronic speed limit panels that lets them change it depending on weather conditions and such.

120 probably makes sense on some Swedish roads, but I think it is a mistake to introduce several new limits. In Norway all multiples of 10 km/h between 20 and 100 km/h are possible. In practice that means whole lot more signs and different speed zones (when entering a town you sometimes see a row of signs 80 - 70 - 60 - 50 - 40), and it distracts a lot of attention from the traffic to keep updated on the speed limits. It was said a couple of years ago that we should switch to a system with warning signs before entering towns instead, but so far that has not happened as far as I can see. I think the simple old Swedish system (30-50-70-90-110) is much better, especially combined with a warning sign a couple of hundred of meters before a change to a new speed zone.

Well from what I've seen they only plan on changing certain speed zones from one to another with these new ones, not add more zones in between and such. Like how the stretch that I saw a couple weeks ago went completely from 90 to 100, not part 90 and part 100.

Within towns the standard limit is 50 when you see the populated sign, and they lower it to 30 for certain zones. I'm sure we'll see a few 40s pop up, but my guess is that it's probably going to be just where there were 30s before (or where they wanted to put 30 in) but where 30 was seen as a bit too slow (but 50 too fast).

Awesome pics there, SmarterChild! How come Sweden hasn't built more motorways (since WWII)?

Sweden has... just last October for example a 70+km stretch opened north of Uppsala, probably 100km total last year, and at least another 60 or 70 km this year, with several new projects also being started or in progress... :)

^ Yeah, recently we're getting lot's of continious stretches between large cities which is ofcourse a good thing.

But, before the 1990's most motorways where just short stretches around the cities and it's only recently that the advantages of motorways (road safety, economic growth in the country-side, etc) are becoming obvious. Besides we still don't have a continious motorway between our 2 largest cities and plans for that has existed since the 1940's...!! So we got some catching up to do and we can thank NIMBYism for that. :P

And about the speed limits, I think most Swedish motorways could handle even 130 km/h (infact, I'd say they already do. :D), some are to old though.

Even tho the E4 is the best to get to the north of scandiavia, it is a mess 2 drive... Surley south of Umeå and north of Gävle is a lot 2 do.

It would take years....

Well it's all completely motorway between Uppsala and Gävle which is nice, and if you didn't notice last month they have started a new 30km stretch of motorway right by Hudiksvall I do believe, so that will be a very welcome new E4 motorway stretch as well. :)

But, before the 1990's most motorways where just short stretches around the cities and it's only recently that the advantages of motorways (road safety, economic growth in the country-side, etc) are becoming obvious.

Yeah, that's what I meant actually; before 90s Sweden didn't manage to build many motorways.

On E6 near Halmstad the speed limit has been 120 for a couple of years depending on nice weather, i guess it's a test-stretch =)

As said, they're building Örebro-Lekhyttan.. But they're planning a 1+1 road between Lekhyttan - Karlskoga. Only some few places will have 2+2 or 2+1 :bash: :ohno:

As said, they're building Örebro-Lekhyttan.. But they're planning a 1+1 road between Lekhyttan - Karlskoga. Only some few places will have 2+2 or 2+1 :bash: :ohno:

Mabye an AADT of 8500 is not enough. This mixed 1+1, 2+1 and 2+2 solution solves the safety problems.

On E6 near Halmstad the speed limit has been 120 for a couple of years depending on nice weather, i guess it's a test-stretch =)

I prefer the 'test-stretch' on the austrian A10 (160km/h). :) Swedish motorways seem too good to have just a 110km/h limit. But that's just a guess, I haven't driven in your beautiful country yet.

I don't know if 160 is really faster than 120. You consume much more fuel, and on the long run, you'll have to refuel more often. You can easily loose like 10 minutes with that, where the one who drive 120 can already drive another 20km.

I think 120 - 130 km/h is a good and reasonable speed limit, it is a comfortable, safe speed, it gets you anywhere fast enough, and it is fuel efficient enough.

I prefer the 'test-stretch' on the austrian A10 (160km/h).

Doesn't exist for some time already.

A month ago a report was released by a national car organisation (MM). MM has reviewed the saftey of 8200 km of roads compared to the criterias of EuroRAP (http://www.eurorap.org/).

The study found out that 46,5 % of the nations busiest roads fail to comply with basic security standards. The study also points out that in an similar test conducted in 2005; 50% of the roads failed the test. There has been far to little efforts put into improvement and today swedish roads are among the unsafest in europe.

The least safest roads are fo und in the northen counties where 73% of tested roads have been given 2 (of 4) or less stars and deemed unsafe while the safest roads are found in the capital region and the southern county of Skåne.

MM has criticized the government for not taking it's resposibility by putting enough money into maintainance and improvement of the road system while collecting sky-high road- and fuel-taxes.

The national road administration has embraced the study and also complained about lack of funds, they are even short of money for the current road plans.

The infrastructure minister has shrugged away the criticism and called on drivers to drive more responsibility. Meanwhile the government has promised to assign more money to the roads and the railways (following reports of the poorest railway maintenance in Europe :lol: ) next year.


Road safety map http://www.eurorap.se/pages/vagar/mmap/index.html

^^
The funny thing is that Swedes are still completely under the impression that we probably have the best roads, railroads, economy and, well, pretty much everything else as well.
So don't expect much change in these matters! :lol:

I don't know if 160 is really faster than 120. You consume much more fuel, and on the long run, you'll have to refuel more often. You can easily loose like 10 minutes with that, where the one who drive 120 can already drive another 20km.

I think 120 - 130 km/h is a good and reasonable speed limit, it is a comfortable, safe speed, it gets you anywhere fast enough, and it is fuel efficient enough.

When you drive 10 km/h faster, your average speed grows 1-2 km/h. So driving 160 instead of 120, will make your average speed only 8 km/h bigger. It's not worth fuel and risk you take driving faster.

I drove from Szczecin to Munich (~780 km, ~7-8 hours of driving without breaks, traffic jams etc.) many times. At one time 140, at other time - as fast as i could, 170-190. You may not believe it, but difference was only 45 minutes.

^^
The funny thing is that Swedes are still completely under the impression that we probably have the best roads, railroads, economy and, well, pretty much everything else as well.
So don't expect much change in these matters! :lol:
Sweden has the 3rd lowest road death rates after The Netherlands and Malta, and this thus ranks Sweden among the best in the world. A lot of these statistics is a result of the bad roads around the north. I would say most of the roads I have been to in many parts throughout southern Sweden, where most people live, are great.

^^ Stats can depend on several factors such as better driving habits and larger (=safer) cars etc.

Actually the numbers of bad roads for each of the southern counties are all at 40%. And that's not surprising at all: I recently drove on Route 42 a 90 km road (in western sweden) between Borås and Trollhättan. It took me close to 2 hours. On the way back I made a 70 km long detour (with a gas price of 12:49 mind you!) via Göteborg and the whole stretch ~150 kms took about 1 h 20m. :nuts:

I dunno where or when you have touristed, but I doubt you'd call roads like R 42 (got plenty more like it) great or even good, had you actually been forced to commute on them daily during busy hours. ;)

I drove from Szczecin to Munich (~780 km, ~7-8 hours of driving without breaks, traffic jams etc.) many times. At one time 140, at other time - as fast as i could, 170-190. You may not believe it, but difference was only 45 minutes.

Well, 45 minutes is still a nice difference, isn't it? ;) I drive around 140-150 in Germany, and it makes sence, though. Not only for the exact travel time profit, but also for the feeling that you get along well. :)

When you drive 10 km/h faster, your average speed grows 1-2 km/h. So driving 160 instead of 120, will make your average speed only 8 km/h bigger. It's not worth fuel and risk you take driving faster.

I drove from Szczecin to Munich (~780 km, ~7-8 hours of driving without breaks, traffic jams etc.) many times. At one time 140, at other time - as fast as i could, 170-190. You may not believe it, but difference was only 45 minutes.

Sorry, but your post doesn't make sense. :)

780 km ÷ 140 km/h = 5 h 35 min
780 km ÷ 170 km/h (let's use the lowest of the 170-190) = 4 h 35 min

So even with the lowest speed between 170 and 190 km/h (= 170 km/h) the difference is 1 hour. And 170 - 140 = 30 km/h and that's the average speed!

I know the "trick" with average speed though: for example if you drive 170 km/h for half the length and 190 km/h the other half, your average speed won't be 180 km/h. :)

I know, what i am talking about, believe me. :)

I don't drive 140 and 180 continuously. Sometimes i have to slow down because of jammed road, sometimes there are speed limits and road works, even on german motorway...

My highest average speed (when driving ~180 where it was allowed and possible) was 137 km/h.

-------------------

Let's get back to topic or ask Chris to move these posts to "Road safety" thread.

^ Oh that. :) Yeah it's true, your average speed just can't be very high, I know.

Today I made a 160 km long trip including 70 km on the E6/E20 motorway from Varberg to Halmstad. The weather was nice but the pictures still turned out way to gray-ish. Think it might have been cuz of my camera settings. :)

Entering the motorway just north of Varberg
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3571/dscn0510xp6.png¨

Exit Varberg C
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1600/dscn0511tx8.png

Massive sign!
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2236/dscn0515vy3.png

Next exit is Varberg S
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3674/dscn0529dt5.png

We take the exit...
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2924/dscn0517fv4.png

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1847/dscn0518nq1.png

...to make a small stop at the village of Tvååker
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6751/dscn0519bh7.png

Back on the motorway, we soon reach Falkenberg
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4716/dscn0537gj0.png

Weird foreign sign layout, showing only next exits
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9366/dscn0534se9.png

Bypassing Falkenberg, exit Falkenberg C
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9787/dscn0540xo8.png

The following sign show some more info about this exit and the pavement is of concrete. ;)
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6868/dscn0541ls8.png

another sign for exit 51
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2613/dscn0542jh6.png

Another variant of signs, this one shows Malmö and the next exit
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3416/dscn0544lc0.png

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3232/dscn0546st3.png

Falkenberg S.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5350/dscn0548qw5.png

Electronic speed signs
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6623/dscn0551ml1.png

Exit Slöinge
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1139/dscn0554ut8.png

Almost at our destination
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/4577/dscn0556ir9.png

Exit Kvibille
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/1982/dscn0561nu0.png

Orientation sign
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4758/dscn0562lc9.png

Reachin Halmstad N
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3213/dscn0563mh0.png

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/224/dscn0564nq3.png

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8409/dscn0565go6.png

Next exit: Halmstad East
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6606/dscn0569ax2.png

Eurostop Next!
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/9031/dscn0572et7.png

Our exit is coming up next
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3628/dscn0573hp0.jpg

Halmstad S
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3039/dscn0576ok2.png

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3026/dscn0578hh9.png

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4310/dscn0579cl4.png

We're driving towards Tylösand
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9261/dscn0580db0.png

City avenue
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7758/dscn0581ue8.png

Well that took a while to upload. :P I'll have to upload the photos from the rest of the trip some other time.

Almost at our destination
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/4577/dscn0556ir9.png

Does each town/city is signed like that or only the most important?

^^ I like those brown tourist signs, makes you feel you are somewhere. Thanks, SmarterChild! Everything is gray b/c of winter ;) and pavement. :D I start liking those industrial pics, we only sign it as "industrial zone".

http://www.svt.se/content/1/c8/01/09/79/08/sverige_hastig_foran080326.pdf
New speedlimits! I'm positive.

Nice, Falkenberg is the northernmost point i've been in Sweden.

http://www.svt.se/content/1/c8/01/09/79/08/sverige_hastig_foran080326.pdf
New speedlimits! I'm positive.

That seems good. What does "Höjd" and "Sänkt" mean, btw?

That seems good. What does "Höjd" and "Sänkt" mean, btw?

Yes, this is better suited to the standard of the roads. Many guardrail roads have 90 km/h, now they get 100 km/h. In my opinion they should also lower the non-divided 90 km/h roads to 80 km/h, but that's mabye politically impossible :)

In the long term we should sort out the odd speed limits and only have 30, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 km/h. This is what I think:

120 km/h, Motorways
100 km/h, Guardrail roads
80 km/h, Non-divided roads
60 km/h, Small country roads and suburban roads
40 km/h, City roads and housing areas
30 km/h, Outside schools or mixed with bicycles and pedestrians

Sänkt = lowered
Höjd = raised

^^ Sounds like Dutch.

Sänkt = zinkt = lager = lowered
Höjd = hoogt = verhoogd = raised

:D

Yeah, it's such a lovely language. Hastighetsgränser speaks for itself too. :)

In the long term we should sort out the odd speed limits

Odd speed limits are much better, believe me. :) 130 km/h instead of 120; 110 instead of 100; 90 instead of 80; 70 instead of 60 and so on. :)

Yeah, those are better for driving in the right gear.

In my opinion they should also lower the non-divided 90 km/h roads to 80 km/h, but that's mabye politically impossible :)

Well maybe some of the narrower ones but IMO otherwise that's just silly really... 90 km/h is working fine, besides we live in a large country and distances are long.

I do hope 14m wide roads get a higher limit though. :)

Odd speed limits are much better, believe me. :) 130 km/h instead of 120; 110 instead of 100; 90 instead of 80; 70 instead of 60 and so on. :)

...or like 110 instead of 120, 90 instead of 100, 70 instead of 80, 50 instead of 60 and so on? :shifty:

No, +10 km/h

Perfectly feasibly, Sweden is a quiet country, traffic-wise. Lower speed limits only attracts more speed violations. I can see that in the Netherlands, where the speed limits are generally one road-classification too low. Nobody sticks to the limit, unless there is speed enforcement.

Well maybe some of the narrower ones but IMO otherwise that's just silly really... 90 km/h is working fine, besides we live in a large country and distances are long.

Why is it silly? Non-divided high speed roads is killers. The current situation with 90 km/h on both divided and non-divided is absurd. In northern Sweden 110 km/h is allowed on really bad roads!

We have to adress the problem insted of allow too high speeds on unsafe roads. More guardrails to the people!

No, +10 km/h

Perfectly feasibly, Sweden is a quiet country, traffic-wise. Lower speed limits only attracts more speed violations. I can see that in the Netherlands, where the speed limits are generally one road-classification too low. Nobody sticks to the limit, unless there is speed enforcement.

So why not 140, 120, 100, 80...? Higher speeds is not an argument against even speed limits.

Why is it silly? Non-divided high speed roads is killers. The current situation with 90 km/h on both divided and non-divided is absurd. In northern Sweden 110 km/h is allowed on really bad roads!

We have to adress the problem insted of allow too high speeds on unsafe roads. More guardrails to the people!

Well, Sweden is still one of the safest countries to travel in, even with the harsh road conditions which can pop up during the winter.

Well, Sweden is still one of the safest countries to travel in, even with the harsh road conditions which can pop up during the winter.

True, Sweden - and the Netherlands - in world class, but it's a relative comparison and best isn't always good.

Why is it silly? Non-divided high speed roads is killers. The current situation with 90 km/h on both divided and non-divided is absurd. In northern Sweden 110 km/h is allowed on really bad roads!

We have to adress the problem insted of allow too high speeds on unsafe roads. More guardrails to the people!

I don't think 90 km/h can qualify as a "high speed road"... but lowering the speed to 80 km/h is just unnecessary because;

1. The consequences of a collision in 90 km/h isn't very different than one in 80 km/h.

2. Money will be wasted on changing signs.

3. The people who are used to the road will continue driving 90 km/h anyway as they know it's safe to do so.

4. Long distance travellers will be frustrated at an unnecessarily low speed limit and make bold overtakings which will result in more accidents.

5. People will start disobeying the speed limits elsewhere aswell.

I agree that having 90 km/h on both divided and non-divided is absurd, on 2+1 roads 100-110 km/h is more appropriate.

I also agree that we need more guardrails. Safer roads with guardrails and grade separated junctions is is what should be prioritized as opposed to wasting money on speed cameras, new signs and whatnot.

However aslong as the infrastructure budget continues to be neglected, I doubt we will see much change in road conditions and I don't think lowering the general speed limits will be a popular move outside the larger cities as it will be seen as a subsitute for better roads (which is exactly what it is).

...or like 110 instead of 120, 90 instead of 100, 70 instead of 80, 50 instead of 60 and so on? :shifty:No, +10 km/h

Perfectly feasibly, Sweden is a quiet country, traffic-wise. Lower speed limits only attracts more speed violations. I can see that in the Netherlands, where the speed limits are generally one road-classification too low. Nobody sticks to the limit, unless there is speed enforcement.So why not 140, 120, 100, 80...? Higher speeds is not an argument against even speed limits.Theoretically yes, but in reality it's a bit different. I wouldn't mind speed limit 140 km/h on motorways (although very few countries allow that), but it's different with other roads. IMO 100 km/h is too low for 4-lane expressways (without hard shoulders or in urban areas), so 110 km/h is better, whereas 120 km/h sounds too much to me. 100 km/h is good on 2-lane expressways, especially those without hard shoulders. On those with hard shoulders 110 km/h would be just fine. However, on most other 2-lane roads 100 km/h is too much, but 80 km/h feels incredibly slow. If a road is somewhat winding (but not too much) or is a major road through a village with just a few houses here and there, 80 km/h would be too much and 60 km/h too little. Through real cities and towns 50 km/h is usually better than 60. :)

1. The consequences of a collision in 90 km/h isn't very different than one in 80 km/h.

No, it may be the difference between life and death.

2. Money will be wasted on changing signs.

...and life will be saved.

3. The people who are used to the road will continue driving 90 km/h anyway as they know it's safe to do so.

Some "know" 110, 130 or 150 km/h is safe :) But you have probably right about peoples habits. What about information campaigns, presence of the police and mabye more cameras?

4. Long distance travellers will be frustrated at an unnecessarily low speed limit and make bold overtakings which will result in more accidents.

Mabye they shouldn't have a driver's license?

5. People will start disobeying the speed limits elsewhere aswell.

I have heard the same argument against higher speed limits.

I also agree that we need more guardrails. Safer roads with guardrails and grade separated junctions is is what should be prioritized as opposed to wasting money on speed cameras, new signs and whatnot.

I'm surprised how calm and how all crazy overtakings disappear on these camera roads. They make a difference. Until we have better standard this is what we can do.

2. Money will be wasted on changing signs.

Heck, we here in Estonia change signs twice a year. In May from 90 to 100/110 and in September/October the opposite. :D That's on major routes, though, because smaller routes have 90km/h all year round.

Theoretically yes, but in reality it's a bit different. I wouldn't mind speed limit 140 km/h on motorways (although very few countries allow that), but it's different with other roads. IMO 100 km/h is too low for 4-lane expressways (without hard shoulders or in urban areas), so 110 km/h is better, whereas 120 km/h sounds too much to me. 100 km/h is good on 2-lane expressways, especially those without hard shoulders. On those with hard shoulders 110 km/h would be just fine. However, on most other 2-lane roads 100 km/h is too much, but 80 km/h feels incredibly slow. If a road is somewhat winding (but not too much) or is a major road through a village with just a few houses here and there, 80 km/h would be too much and 60 km/h too little. Through real cities and towns 50 km/h is usually better than 60. :)

In the city core i think 40 km/h is the best limit. 50 km/h is often too high and 30 km/h too low if there isn't special conditions. On separated suburban roads 50 km/h is sometimes too low, and 60 km/h would be better. This is from my Swedish experience :)

I generally have no problems with speeds 90-130 km/h on safe roads - Meaning Motorways or guardrail roads. It's when mixed with pedestrians/bicycles in the city or non-divided country/express roads where people mostly dies.

No, it may be the difference between life and death.



...and life will be saved.



Some "know" 110, 130 or 150 km/h is safe :) But you have probably right about peoples habits. What about information campaigns, presence of the police and mabye more cameras?



Mabye they shouldn't have a driver's license?



I have heard the same argument against higher speed limits.



I'm surprised how calm and how all crazy overtakings disappear on these camera roads. They make a difference. Until we have better standard this is what we can do.


Im sure the possibility of lowering the speed limit to 80 km/h wouldn't have slipped by the authorities had the impact of it been that great. ;)

Luckily though, Vägverket seems more keen to focus on road -capacity and -condition improvements in it's long term goals rather than wasting money and time on trifles such as marginally lowering the speed limits.

In the city core i think 40 km/h is the best limit. 50 km/h is often too high and 30 km/h too low if there isn't special conditions. On separated suburban roads 50 km/h is sometimes too low, and 60 km/h would be better. This is from my Swedish experience :)

I generally have no problems with speeds 90-130 km/h on safe roads - Meaning Motorways or guardrail roads. It's when mixed with pedestrians/bicycles in the city or non-divided country/express roads where people mostly dies.

I respect your opinion, I just remember when we still had almost exclusively even tens (60/80/100/120 km/h) and very rarely odd tens (50/70/90/110 (130 km/h didn't exist at all)). I didn't like it at all. :) They mostly raised speed limits for 10 km/h, they just lowered the limit in urban areas from 60 to 50 km/h, except on most 4-lane roads, where it can be up to 70 km/h, if the road is good enough.

Im sure the possibility of lowering the speed limit to 80 km/h wouldn't have slipped by the authorities had the impact of it been that great. ;)

Luckily though, Vägverket seems more keen to focus on road -capacity and -condition improvements in it's long term goals rather than wasting money and time on trifles such as marginally lowering the speed limits.

No this is not tifle. The chance of surviving an accident is rapidly decreasing with the speed.

Yay for new speed limits! I wish more stretches were getting 120 though...

No this is not tifle. The chance of surviving an accident is rapidly decreasing with the speed.

Indeed, but the chances of survivng a two car collision is already slim at 70 km/h, so maybe we should lower the speed limit to 50 km/h to save more lives. :sleepy:

Forbid all traffic, that's even safer :D

Forbid all traffic, that's even safer :D

Bikes über alles! :cheers:

Indeed, but the chances of survivng a two car collision is already slim at 70 km/h, so maybe we should lower the speed limit to 50 km/h to save more lives. :sleepy:

Yes, mabye ;) I can use the same argument; if there is no big difference, as you say, why not go from 90 to 100 or 120 km/h? It's all about an acceptable balance.

The fact is that non-divided roads is where people dies. If there is no money bulding motorways or widening to 2+1 roads in near future, then what to do? An interesting consequence of lowering to 80 km/h is that both cars and trucks is allowed to reach the same maximum speed, therefore making many dangerous overtakings unnecessary.

Forbid all traffic, that's even safer :D

No speed limit whatsoever! Everybody dies anyway! ;)

Yes, mabye ;) I can use the same argument; if there is no big difference, as you say, why not go from 90 to 100 or 120 km/h? It's all about an acceptable balance.

The fact is that non-divided roads is where people dies. If there is no money bulding motorways or widening to 2+1 roads in near future, then what to do? An interesting consequence of lowering to 80 km/h is that both cars and trucks is allowed to reach the same maximum speed, therefore making many dangerous overtakings unnecessary.


That's valid on paper, but not in practice as most will probably drive 90 km/h anyway.

Why 90 km/h you ask? Well Swedish roads are among the least deadliest in Europe, so IMO it's obvioulsy an optimal limit for balance between the quality and the relatively low AADT of many many roads, which probably won't be 1+1 in our lifetimes.

That is ofcourse just my opinion, I don't think we're ever gonna agree on this though. :P

The fact is that non-divided roads is where people dies. If there is no money bulding motorways or widening to 2+1 roads in near future, then what to do? An interesting consequence of lowering to 80 km/h is that both cars and trucks is allowed to reach the same maximum speed, therefore making many dangerous overtakings unnecessary.

You're absolutely right about that, but come see the Netherlands, we have an overall 80 limit, and endless overtaking prohibits. People don't take the continuous center line serious anymore, they used to mark places were overtaking was really dangerous, now they're everywhere, and lost it's original function.

SmarterChild and ChriszWolle, I think we can agree on that these kind of roads is problematic in any case, especially when heavy loaded. So lets hope Sweden and the Netherlands can invest in safer roads, mabye not motorways but some kind och guardrail or at least painted overtaking lanes. :cheers:

I am hoping for 2+1 roads. They are much safer, even without any seperation between directions, because they offer safe overtaking possibilities. The Netherlands has currently only one of those roads, and guess what, it's right next to my city :D

But i've seen it often in Germany. It's a perfect solution for roads which are not busy enough to require a motorway, but busy enough to require safer overtaking possibilities.

SmarterChild and ChriszWolle, I think we can agree on that these kind of roads is problematic in any case, especially when heavy loaded. So lets hope Sweden and the Netherlands can invest in safer roads, mabye not motorways but some kind och guardrail or at least painted overtaking lanes. :cheers:

I don't agree with that!

:jk:


Cheers mate :cheers: :)

An interesting consequence of lowering to 80 km/h is that both cars and trucks is allowed to reach the same maximum speed, therefore making many dangerous overtakings unnecessary.

80km/h isn't the same in a truck as in a car. On roads, let's say, less then 7,5 meters wide 80km/h is a HIGH speed for trucks, while the same road at the same speed can feel (too) slow in a car. You can't prevent overtaking, just because in theory all vehicles would be able to drive the same speed.

Besides that, 80 on a truck's speedometer is 90 in a car's speedometer. So if you see a truck speeding with 100km/h it's usually not driving faster than 92/93km/h. That's because trucks have a much smaller deviation on their speedometer. You can check that out with a TomTom or something similar. If i drive 120 on the TomTom, i drive 129 on my speedometer.

People slowing down to 45km/h because of a 50km/h speeding camera are so irritating, you'll only get a ticket above 53/54km/h in reality, which is over 60 on your car's speedometer.

80km/h isn't the same in a truck as in a car. On roads, let's say, less then 7,5 meters wide 80km/h is a HIGH speed for trucks, while the same road at the same speed can feel (too) slow in a car. You can't prevent overtaking, just because in theory all vehicles would be able to drive the same speed.

Generally main 90 km/h roads in Sweden is about 9 m or 13 m wide. The latter getting rebuilt to 1+2 in high rate. I'm a driver too so I know about how the speed can fly away, what feels fast in the begining is slow at the end of the trip :) But should that really influence the speed limit decision? My feeling is that trucks often go too fast on narrow roads. It's sometimes scary when a 2,5 m wide bus with 50 passengers passing a 2,5 m wide 60 ton truck with a distance of 0,5 m :p

You need thousands of camera's for that, that's not practical. Dutch main road can be as narrow as 2,75m, with a truck you only have a few centimeters left on both sides (with mirrors).

I'm a driver too so I know about how the speed can fly away, what feels fast in the begining is slow at the end of the trip But should that really influence the speed limit decision?

Why not? If you can drive 100-110 on wide straight road safely, wouldn't you feel trapped if the police caught you on driving too fast?

Why not? If you can drive 100-110 on wide straight road safely, wouldn't you feel trapped if the police caught you on driving too fast?

Probably :) If it's safe enough with 100-110 the limit should of course be 100-110. Do you mean like it's different conditions during the day or seasons?

You need thousands of camera's for that, that's not practical. Dutch main road can be as narrow as 2,75m, with a truck you only have a few centimeters left on both sides (with mirrors).

Yes, you are right. I'm not advocating cameras on every small country road, it won't work. It was only my personal reflection. Last year there was a tragic bus accident north of Uppsala. Two busses collided on a "narrow" 90 km/h road. Six people died.

http://www.dn.se/content/1/c6/62/24/83/bussolyckaVy.jpg

One should adapt a lower speed in such road conditions.

Own responsibility. To me that's more important than a massive amount of signs advocating a lower speed limit. A bit like they do it in Germany.

One should adapt a lower speed in such road conditions.

Own responsibility. To me that's more important than a massive amount of signs advocating a lower speed limit. A bit like they do it in Germany.

Yes, own responsibility is important but doesn't always work. An interesting circumstance in this case was (Swedish, from DN):

"Samtidigt påpekar Knut Hawby, avdelningschef vid Vägverket, att de gånger som verket försökt att sätta ned hastigheten på samma väg närmare Uppsala "kom det kraftiga protester". "

Free transplate: When we have tried to lower the speed limit on this road we ran into "strong protests", an road authority department director says.

And this is tragic (Swedish, from DN):

"Vajerräcken på olycksplatsen kunde ha hindrat eller mildrat den allvarliga bussolyckan. Men en ombyggnation, med vajerräcken, är planerad först till 2013."

Free transplate: Guardrail would have prevent or mitigate the accident, but the rebuilding is planned first in year 2013.

Well, what we do know is that people aren't particularly rational beings, especially when it comes to driving. First of all, having a 10-kph-interval option may have both positive and negative effects. I think the main issue is to avoid the Norwegian disease of changing the speed limit so many times that the average driver only gets confused. Otherwise, I think it makes sense, particularly in the lower end of the limit scale - 30 to 50 is a really large interval, as is 50 to 70.

In terms of the limits themselves, there is little doubt that limits higher than 80-90 kph on undivided highways in itself is a safety hazard. Swedish research shows that 70 kph is a critical limit in terms of surviving head-on collisions, if you're going faster than that, the deceleration forces are potentially lethal no matter what kind of car you drive.

Then, the only issue becomes what kind of risks are we willing to accept? It is relatively easy to build 2-lane undivided roads that invite you to go 100+ kph (plenty of those in Sweden, even a few in Norway...). But should we be allowed to when we know the risk involved? I honestly think not. 90 is more than high enough. Motorways and divided expressways is a different kettle of fish altogether. 120+ is safe on motorways, and 100+ makes sense on 2+1 or 2+2 roads.

Then, the only issue becomes what kind of risks are we willing to accept?

I would say it's a matter of public economy. More/worse accidents means expensive health care and sick leave. Death means 10-20 years of education and mabye many years of job experience in the trash. And to that the relatives missing their partner, mother, father, child, brother, sister, friend etc. Higher speed also means higher fuel consumption and wear. But on the other hand higher speed means shorter trips and thus saving time = money. But i generally doubt 90 km/h is more profitable than 80 km/h on these kind of roads, mabye not in northern Sweden. The 90 km/h limit is about politics and fear of fall out with the "public".

I'm personally all for more cameras, even if I hate them myself. They do make things safer so I'm all for them.

They do make things safer so I'm all for them.

Speeding is rarely the real cause of accidents... Besides, swedish roads are clearly already very safe. You come to a point when you have to accept that traffic is never without risks. You can lower and lower speed limits to, in theory, reduce the results of accidents. But people wil disobey more and more, and people are less able to handle higher speeds, on which the road is designed for.
Safe driving begins with good education and safe roads. I guess neither of them is a real problem in Sweden.

I agree with the above. Speed doesnt kill per se, bad driving does, tiresomeness, lack of care, drunk driving etc.

It needs to be reasonable though of course, i dont think most people would agree with too high limits either, too low limits would be equally unpopular, and unpractical.

As far as cameras go, i doubt it, let the police do their jobs and actually look for people who drive badly, cant hold their lane and such things. Thats what kills, not speed per se. It could become annoying.

Those who give up their freedom for safety deserve neither and will end up with neither as well, as they say :cheers:.

I think the most effective way would be just that, check so that people drive adequately by having local law enforcement actually observe trafficants on their roads so that they dont pose any danger. Unfortunately that takes up resources both in time, money and manpower which could be used in other areas of law enforcement and citizen protection.

It would not be the end of accidents, but I think that is a good and practical way to deal with it. Then i also am for local empowerment and think the local communities should deal with their law enforcement so that people in Kiruna dont have complain about having to pay for keeping an eye on the roads of Scania, or vice versa :).

I agree with the above. Speed doesnt kill per se, bad driving does, tiresomeness, lack of care, drunk driving etc.

"tiresomeness, lack of care, drunk driving" doesn't "kill per se" either, it's the crash ;) But that doesn't mean it's not part of the course of events, or the outcome of the crash.

It needs to be reasonable though of course, i dont think most people would agree with too high limits either, too low limits would be equally unpopular, and unpractical.

So speed limits is about what "people would agree with"? So why not just eliminate them?

Those who give up their freedom for safety deserve neither and will end up with neither as well, as they say

Who do you mean doesn't deserve safety and freedom? Everybody in favour of some sort of speed limit?

It can be pretty easy. A road has design standards, that have a design speed limit. Posting a significant lower speed limit only attracts speeding.

It can be pretty easy. A road has design standards, that have a design speed limit.

Agree :)

Posting a significant lower speed limit only attracts speeding.

Why set a limit lower than what the road design allows, in the first place?

-----

In general terms, lower speed limit than what some people want to drive will always attract speeding.

Why set a limit lower than what the road design allows, in the first place?


Political reasons. In the Netherlands, roads are undergoing a new classification system, and long wide, straight and quiet roads often have a 60-limit now, because they're not having a major traffic function. People continue to drive 90 there, but they made it look like 90 is much more dangerous now, while the road didn't change when being downgraded from 80 to 60.

Also, a lot of 100km/h roads (motorroads) are in the process of being degraded to normal 80-roads.

A problem is, that people do not know how to handle higher speeds, it's not uncommon to see an line of cars behind someone who drives only 70km/h, which is very frustrating, because 80 is already feeling like a low speed limit.

With all unnecessary (juridical meaning) signs, low speed limits, chicanes, speed bumps, speed traps etc, people do not develop an own responsibility-feeling anymore. Everything is guided here, quite different to other countries, where people are more relying on their own responsibility instead of that of the road authority/politics.

Political reasons. In the Netherlands, roads are undergoing a new classification system, and long wide, straight and quiet roads often have a 60-limit now, because they're not having a major traffic function. People continue to drive 90 there, but they made it look like 90 is much more dangerous now, while the road didn't change when being downgraded from 80 to 60.

Also, a lot of 100km/h roads (motorroads) are in the process of being degraded to normal 80-roads.

A problem is, that people do not know how to handle higher speeds, it's not uncommon to see an line of cars behind someone who drives only 70km/h, which is very frustrating, because 80 is already feeling like a low speed limit.

Yes, the speed limit must be justified. The road authority has to point out what constitutes it.

E.g, the road/section:
# is 9 m wide
# has no left turn lanes
# has many level crossings
# has an AADT of 5000
etc.

Therefore it get X km/h

With all unnecessary (juridical meaning) signs, low speed limits, chicanes, speed bumps, speed traps etc, people do not develop an own responsibility-feeling anymore. Everything is guided here, quite different to other countries, where people are more relying on their own responsibility instead of that of the road authority/politics.

Yes, it's sad. Just as I can't leave my door unlocked or trust people money on the street either. We have burglar alarms and cameras in shops and private houses, just as we have speed bumps and speed limits. It's a fact in our modern society.

"tiresomeness, lack of care, drunk driving" doesn't "kill per se" either, it's the crash ;) But that doesn't mean it's not part of the course of events, or the outcome of the crash.

Thanks for adding stringency. However that is the root of the accident


So speed limits is about what "people would agree with"? So why not just eliminate them?

Of course, its a democracy, or supposed to be, what do you prefer, dogmatic totalitarian decisions? People would not put up with any speed limit. Whether its too high or too low it risks to be met with opposition. That is what i meant.


Who do you mean doesn't deserve safety and freedom? Everybody in favour of some sort of speed limit?

I was referring to cameras. Its a loosely quoted historical statement.



...

The speed limit is there to be obeyed and is the law. Certainly, I break the speed limit all the time. The cameras are simply another way of enforcing this (very common) law. As much as I might hate them (because I sometimes have to lower my speed if I am speeding a bit), it is my conscious decision to break the law (both with or without the camera). If people want to keep driving at whatever speeds they want, they can still do that anyway even with the camera there, but then they have to face the consequences. You realize that you are breaking the law, even if there is no camera or cop.

Thanks for adding stringency. However that is the root of the accident

...no speed, no accident - More speed, more and worse accidents. Mabye the existence of humans and cars is the root of car accidents ;)

Of course, it's a democracy, or supposed to be, what do you prefer, dogmatic totalitarian decisions? People would not put up with any speed limit. Whether its too high or too low it risks to be met with opposition. That is what i meant.

Why should I prefer "dogmatic totalitarian decisions"?

90km/h to 80km/h doesn't change much. We have done this in Norway a few years back on the best non-guard-rail-road-stretches with the most fatale accidents. Results: Only small reduction in accidents.
But on many not so good roads with high fatality numbers, they lowered the limit from 80km/h to 70km/h, and these roads had much less fatale accidents, in face to face collisions.
Showing there's a big difference between 90km/h and 80km/h face to face collisions (In Norway most people drive 10 km/h over the speed limit.)

The weirdest thing i see in sweden is the E6 past tanumshede wich is really wide... So wide that cars can pass trucks with facing trafic. Definatly room for a guard-rail, but no guard-rail. Someone please enlighten me of why they would construct such a road?

...no speed, no accident - More speed, more and worse accidents. Mabye the existence of humans and cars is the root of car accidents ;)



Why should I prefer "dogmatic totalitarian decisions"?

Haha, yes sure, by the same token we could abolish speed. Lets all stand still :). The point is that there are many advantages to travelling and doing so at a reasonable speed, accidents are tragic, without doubt. But lowering speed limits is not always the best compromise...

...I didnt imply you preferred that, i just wanted to drive my point home, since it seemed that you did not fully understand what i meant in the original post.

Nor did i intend to imply that we should remove speed limits or let the average person on the street arbitrarily set it. But there needs to be a balance, and I dont think lowering it too much would be a solution as much as it would be a subject of annoyance.

But i guess i sort of struck a nerve bringing up the "popularity" of speed limits as a deciding factor. I hope i clarified that now :lol:. If a local community wants relatively low speed limits in their locality, its up to them, of course.

But i guess i sort of struck a nerve bringing up the "popularity" of speed limits as a deciding factor. I hope i clarified that now :lol:. If a local community wants relatively low speed limits in their locality, its up to them, of course.

This discussion originated from the presentation of the new Swedish speed limits, thus discussing speed. I have not claimed speed limits as a deciding factor. My feeling is that many drivers excuse their speeding behavior with others "bad driving", "tiresomeness", "lack of care" and "drunk driving". It's here we have the "nerve".

If you want to discuss traffic safety in general please do.

Ok, i may have missunderstood the starting point of the discussion. Those reasons are hardly any excuses for speeding, but I do think that they are one major factor behind accidents, if not the largest one. And thus accidents could be prevented by surveying traffic for technically bad driving. People not driving properly and not using expedient vigilance and signals are the worst factor i believe, along with attitude. But this it should be noted, is based on my intuititon and judgement and not actual statistics.

Certain accidents will happen no matter speed limit (within reasonable speed ranges of course), if you dont survey for bad driving. Whereas other accidents of more sporadic and incidential nature i dare guess do increase with higher speed limits, because the time for reaction is lower and the severity of accidents most often increased.


In the long term we should sort out the odd speed limits and only have 30, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 km/h. This is what I think:

120 km/h, Motorways
100 km/h, Guardrail roads
80 km/h, Non-divided roads
60 km/h, Small country roads and suburban roads
40 km/h, City roads and housing areas
30 km/h, Outside schools or mixed with bicycles and pedestrians

It looks good, but i dont know if its practically possible or very advantageous to reach such consistency, technology and roads change all the time, and the roads do so in a fragmented nature throughout the nation. But i guess its good to have goals to aim at as a general standard.

Ok, i may have missunderstood the starting point of the discussion. Those reasons are hardly any excuses for speeding, but I do think that they are one major factor behind accidents, if not the largest one. And thus accidents could be prevented by surveying traffic for technically bad driving. People not driving properly and not using expedient vigilance and signals are the worst factor i believe, along with attitude. But this it should be noted, is based on my intuititon and judgement and not actual statistics.

Certain accidents will happen no matter speed limit (within reasonable speed ranges of course), if you dont survey for bad driving. Whereas other accidents of more sporadic and incidential nature i dare guess do increase with higher speed limits, because the time for reaction is lower and the severity of accidents most often increased.

Yes, I agree with you! :)
People (not everybody) has to know more about how their car and own mind work, knowledge about how the car behave during an emergency situation and train their own reactions - with alcohol in the blood it's difficult to use it ;) Driving should also be something engageing, as it makes one reflect over the potential situations, and learn. Driving as a routine is dangerous. In city driving it's important to remember that unprotected humans is very fragile!

It looks good, but i dont know if its practically possible or very advantageous to reach such consistency, technology and roads change all the time, and the roads do so in a fragmented nature throughout the nation. But i guess its good to have goals to aim at as a general standard.

All the speed steps annoy me a little bit, but with the fragmentated situation - as you point out - then it probably is the best way to go.

This thread has been dead for a while, soo I'll just post some pix from my trip Linköping-Stockholm(mostly E4) and bring it back. This first are from the city of Linköping leding out to E4 .. http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7746/1003903ma5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/8858/1003904bb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8224/1003906lb4.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6223/1003908vf0.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/400/1003909no5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/33/1003910js5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) So now it's all E4 to STHLM. http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/4650/1003911cm7.jpg (http://imageshack.us) (close up) http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3008/1003912ey9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Norrköping http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4506/1003916zy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8652/1003918tm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/182/1003921ne0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Notice the red asfalt.. http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5601/1003919it2.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Kinda wide now http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/197/1003922fa9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9416/1003925db5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6526/1003923pv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5046/1003926xd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2994/1003924rf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Resturant on top of the road. http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8669/1003927xe9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Close to Södertälje(worse city in Sweden) http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1904/1003929yv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Södertälje http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5518/1003930hg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2315/1003932xr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Tomorrow I'll post some pix of urban-freeways .Here is a sneak peak.. http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6334/1003956vo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I think Stockholm needs motorway bypass, however terrain seems to be difficult :( Many lakes.

I'll try to get some UC pics from the new motorway being built between Örebro and Lekhyttan (half the way between Örebro-Karlskoga). I guess I will take the bus to Örebro sometime in the near future.

Im interested in how the new motorway will look. What speed limit will it have?

I think Stockholm needs motorway bypass, however terrain seems to be difficult :( Many lakes.
They will start building a motorway bypass by 2010. It's a bit over 20km long, and over 15km of it will be in tunnels. :)

They will start building a motorway bypass by 2010. It's a bit over 20km long, and over 15km of it will be in tunnels. :)Do you have a map of this bypass?

Im interested in how the new motorway will look. What speed limit will it have?
110!
Do you have a map of this bypass?
A big map I found... http://www.vv.se/filer/karta_webben.jpg

It's pretty much guaranteed to be built, though sadly it'll only be done in 2020 or so. It's quite the project though. I'm glad that the tunnels will help with the environment but it'll be sad to miss all the beautiful nature...oh well, we'll get a good glimpse of it on the one bridge over the water and short above-ground stretch, which should have really nice views!

Edit: the exact figures: 21km, 16km in tunnel.

Map with the exits: http://vv.se/filer/8216/karta%20PP.jpg

I'll try to get some UC pics from the new motorway being built between Örebro and Lekhyttan (half the way between Örebro-Karlskoga). I guess I will take the bus to Örebro sometime in the near future.
Värmland county has been giving hints that it may give money to Vägverket to get motorways built from Karlstad all the way to the border with Örebro county by 2020. If this happens then we'll pretty much just have the short stretch between Lekhytten and Karlskoga without motorway on the stretch Karlstad-Stockholm, which would be awesome. :) And by 2020, maybe even that stretch will be under construction.

Two stretches on the E18 between Västerås and Stockholm are being currently built; one opens in a few months, one in 2010.

http://i31.tinypic.com/2zstbt4.jpg

Värmland county has been giving hints that it may give money to Vägverket to get motorways built from Karlstad all the way to the border with Örebro county by 2020. If this happens then we'll pretty much just have the short stretch between Lekhytten and Karlskoga without motorway on the stretch Karlstad-Stockholm, which would be awesome. :) And by 2020, maybe even that stretch will be under construction.

Two stretches on the E18 between Västerås and Stockholm are being currently built; one opens in a few months, one in 2010.
It's going to be 1+1 and 1+2 for some years now. But, the "E18 Group" want this stretch to be 2+2 in the future :banana:

EDIT: The stretch in Karlskoga is not a motorway... It's 2+2 with roundabouts and traffic lights. But, maybe the bridge over the lake Möckeln will be UC or something by 2020... Karlskoga Kommun want it to be built.. Here's a map I made :)
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/karlskogabro.PNG

That would be great! It's always really weird having a bunch of lights and going right through the city on the E18.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/E22_motorvag_gualov.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/E22_motorvag_ryssberget.JPG

Pretty awesome landscape I must say. These are from E22 in Scania, found them on wikipedia.

The rest from my trip to Stockholm. Some pictures are a little blurry,sorry:ohno: Okej I'm driving to Södermalm from e4-south on these first pics, crossing highway 73. http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/15/1003933kh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1885/1003934lq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9493/1003935ix7.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Ok here is the split, e4 goes on top I think the other on becomes nr 222. http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2497/1003936fj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1703/1003937to1.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/663/1003938cr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/9305/1003939py2.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Tunnels comming up, my pictures from the Södra Länken(tunnels 3x3) was so bad that i will only post one. http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7640/1003941nn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1974/1003946tg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Close to Södermalm now, just over one of these bridges . http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9199/1003950xs5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7569/1003951sn3.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5254/1003952ck5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) OK I'm on Södemalm, an island and pix show the same bridges, one is nr73 http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3066/1003953ng0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Last post, all E4 going home(around 8-10 evening). http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2221/1003955lw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/269/1003957ur6.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5498/1003973jv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/881/1003977cx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Now I'm back in Östergötland, still E4. http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1818/1003985sn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/883/1003986qm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

How is the Stockholm congestion pricing working out? I read the London Congestion Charge caused a short backfall in traffic volumes, but they are already back to pre-CC levels. Is the same happening in Stockholm?

Google translate is just amazing! (I didnt have the time to translate it myself)
http://translate.google.se/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dn.se%2FDNet%2Fjsp%2Fpolopoly.jsp%3Fd%3D1298%26a%3D679808&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&sl=sv&tl=en

20% huh. They had a similar amount in London. I doubt if it would stay this way. Personally, I think it's back to old levels within 2 - 3 years.

edit - double.

Yes, this is better suited to the standard of the roads. Many guardrail roads have 90 km/h, now they get 100 km/h. In my opinion they should also lower the non-divided 90 km/h roads to 80 km/h, but that's mabye politically impossible :)

In the long term we should sort out the odd speed limits and only have 30, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 km/h. This is what I think:

120 km/h, Motorways
100 km/h, Guardrail roads
80 km/h, Non-divided roads
60 km/h, Small country roads and suburban roads
40 km/h, City roads and housing areas
30 km/h, Outside schools or mixed with bicycles and pedestrians

Sänkt = lowered
Höjd = raised

After taking a 2000-km road trip around southern Sweden, I have a few comments on speed limits and road conditions. First, the 120 kph project around Halmstad made sense, and even other stretches are more than good enough to see a raised limit (the difference between 120 and 130 is really marginal). Still, the fact that several exits do not have a decelleration lane is something that should be addressed.

Also, driving the E6 through Göteborg (Gothenburg) is a nightmare. Several massive interchanges in a very short stretch of road, some with exits on the left, makes a complete mess of things. It was jammed for kilometres around noon (and the speed limit was - for no apparent reason - reduced to 30 kph... not that it really made any difference, the traffic moved at 10). Are there plans to make the E6 bypass Göteborg? It seems necessary.

Then, the (at least in Norway) famed 2+1/1+1 guardrailded roads. They are obviously safer than the alternative, but I see a few problems. First, the guardrail itself: the wire version has been heavily criticised by motorcyclists, who claim that it works like an "egg cutter" in the event of an accident. Second, the 1-laned sections are so narrow that it would be difficult bordering on the impossible for emergency services to get past traffic. A problem if the other direction is blocked by, say, an overturned lorry. Third, and in my opinion, most important: The roads (mainly) allow level intersections, even tiny agricultural roads often cross the road at level. This means that the road is just as dangerous as ordinary roads in that respect. Perhaps even more so, as these roads promote a higher driving speed.

In my opinion, only roundabouts or grade separated junctions should be used on such roads. True, roundabouts reduce average driving speed and grade separation is expensive, but the alternative is a lower speed limit. The Swedes, somewhat to their credit, have realised this: 90 kph (70 in places) on unseparated roads, 110 kph (will be reduced to 100) on those with grade separated junctions.

^ I was actually read smth abt this saying that a 1+1 road lane should be atleast 5,5 m so a car can pass another one if it's parked on the shoulder! Maybe some older 2+1 variants don't follow this standrad though.


http://i33.tinypic.com/1y4vw8.png

^ I was actually read smth abt this saying that a 1+1 road lane should be atleast 5,5 m so a car can pass another one if it's parked on the shoulder! Maybe some older 2+1 variants don't follow this standrad though.


http://i33.tinypic.com/1y4vw8.png

They most certainly don't. It's actually implied in the article as well, the illustration is of a 14-metre wide road, but it is indicated that the profile may be as narrow as 13. At least in some 1-lane places of the 2+1s, it would be difficult for an ambulance to overtake acar, and virtually impossible to get past a lorry (the 1+1s were much better). Still, I was more sceptical to the junctions than the profile. The Norwegian 2+1s are actually better, 14.5 metres wide and with either roundabouts or graded junctions. But they are sooo much fewer, unfortunately...

http://www.adressa.no/multimedia/archive/01022/midtdeler_1022639b.jpg
A trivial punctuation created major havoc on E6 between Trondheim and Steinkjer in Norway the other day, as trucks were not able to pass the car. As you can see there is no shoulder! What should an emergency vehicle have done?

In the Netherlands, they usually have a 2 - 3m wide "obstacle free" zone along major roads. If you have a breakdown, you can stop your car in the grass instead of on the pavement. It also makes a road looks less claustrophobic.

In the Netherlands, they usually have a 2 - 3m wide "obstacle free" zone along major roads. If you have a breakdown, you can stop your car in the grass instead of on the pavement. It also makes a road looks less claustrophobic.

This makes perfect sense. However, as the Swedes are rebuilding their excisting 13-metre 2-lane roads into 2+1s with a guardrail, they have obviously taken inspiration from Norway and done it on the cheap... I'm pretty certain they don't make these mistakes on new roads (as we, unfortunately, do in Norway...).

Here a report about Motorway E6 constructions, section Svinesund (Border N/S) - Göteborg. This road is the main entrance to Norway and of vital importance for the Norwegian economy. On the Swedish side the progress is significant less than in Norway. Where is the so-called Nordic solidarity? Why do we have to wait in traffic jam not long after the border on a local road? Here photos from 21 July 2008:

http://i38.tinypic.com/2jdjt3d.jpg
Border N/S at Svinesund bridge

http://i34.tinypic.com/21l3dvn.jpg
Distance table Göteborg 160

http://i35.tinypic.com/14v1d28.jpg
Start new constructions with valley viaduct

http://i38.tinypic.com/eitt3p.jpg
New viaduct under construction

http://i38.tinypic.com/2s1qcyu.jpg
End of motorway sections under construction, distance Göteborg 121

http://i35.tinypic.com/262xxkh.jpg
Recent completed section, distance Göteborg 100 with low level safety “egg-cutter” rails

http://i34.tinypic.com/30m002c.jpg
Uddevalla bridge with high level safety walls

http://i37.tinypic.com/vcfh4.jpg
Closer look at safety walls, very exceptional in Sweden

http://i34.tinypic.com/2i1z5zp.jpg
Entering city motorway in Göteborg with electronic travel time expectations table

The E6 will be completely upgraded within a few years, by 2012 I do believe. A section just opened now in mid-June. There are many other motorway projects and so total focus can't be given to just this section. For example a whole bunch are opening on the E18 this year and several in the Stockholm area are also being dealt with. :)

Örebro - Lekhyttan... :gaah: I want it now!

There are many other motorway projects and so total focus can't be given to just this section.

On my trip over almost all Swedish motorways last week, I had no traffic jam, except two sections:

1. E6 Skee - Rabbalshede
2. E6 City motorway Göteborg

More serious is that the traffic jam was OUTSIDE peak hours. This is unusual in the rest of Europe. These sections were a big contrast compared with the rest of Sweden. Other Swedish motorways had much lower traffic density than in the rest of Europe, there was space in abundance on the road. I can not say something about Stockholm, because I did not visit the Stockholm city motorways.

Outside peak hours I lost at least half an hour in the E6 traffic jams. It will be easy to make a calculation about the loss of economical and other benefits. Therefore it is reasonable to put the E6 sections on top. At least the loal roads shoud be made wider to e.g. 2+1 within a year, since we have to wait till 2012 for the new motorway. Even in poor Poland in such sections local roads will be made wider, while in the same time a new motorway is under construction, to avoid the loss of economical and other benefits.

More serious is that the traffic jam was OUTSIDE peak hours. This is unusual in the rest of Europe.

You should visit the Netherlands then.. :D We have traffic jams all day. They can be over 10km outside peak hours.

Not true. I visit EVERY DAY the Netherlands. :) There are in the Netherlands no motorway sections outside peak hours with traffic jam, speed less than 10 km/h, outside road reconstructions.
In Germany there are sections with traffic jam outside peak hours, e.g. A3 Würzburg.

On my trip over almost all Swedish motorways last week, I had no traffic jam, except two sections:

1. E6 Skee - Rabbalshede
2. E6 City motorway Göteborg

More serious is that the traffic jam was OUTSIDE peak hours. This is unusual in the rest of Europe. These sections were a big contrast compared with the rest of Sweden. Other Swedish motorways had much lower traffic density than in the rest of Europe, there was space in abundance on the road. I can not say something about Stockholm, because I did not visit the Stockholm city motorways.

Outside peak hours I lost at least half an hour in the E6 traffic jams. It will be easy to make a calculation about the loss of economical and other benefits. Therefore it is reasonable to put the E6 sections on top. At least the loal roads shoud be made wider to e.g. 2+1 within a year, since we have to wait till 2012 for the new motorway. Even in poor Poland in such sections local roads will be made wider, while in the same time a new motorway is under construction, to avoid the loss of economical and other benefits.

This is Sweden we're talking about, standard time between the initial decision to actual completion of the project is about 50 years.

With the ocasional exeption IE Malmö-Kobenhaven Bridge (120 years), Stockholm ringroads still only half built (formal decision 1948).

This is Sweden we're talking about, standard time between the initial decision to actual completion of the project is about 50 years.

With the ocasional exeption IE Malmö-Kobenhaven Bridge (120 years), Stockholm ringroads still only half built (formal decision 1948).

This kind of stories also has Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, etc., etc. You can feel the frustrations on the motorway forums.
Better look to success in motorway initiations. How did they do it? They did it by local governments (cities and villages). Need for economical growth, road safety, etc. Then also by moving the requests to county (province) level. A motorway initiator with political experience may be helpful here to bring the groups together and to negotiate about the hard issues. This process does not have to take 50 years. And if so, the government procedures can be changed and/or applied by the government in such a way that motorway initiation can be done much earlier.

E18, Section Arboga – Örebro – Karlstad - Border N/S

Here a report about Motorway E18 constructions, section Arboga – Örebro – Karlstad - Border N/S. Photos from 19 July 2008:

http://i37.tinypic.com/23w5hs3.jpg


http://i35.tinypic.com/2ylwvpz.jpg
Junction Arboga with E18 and E20 motorways

http://i33.tinypic.com/5cg39l.jpg
Near Örebro

http://i38.tinypic.com/sy1ljm.jpg
An interchange near Örebro

http://i33.tinypic.com/2qn8t3q.jpg
.....a whole bunch are opening on the E18 this year..... Here is a part of the bunch of the E18, after the junction with E20 at Örebro. On the right a part of the new motorway construction.


http://i37.tinypic.com/2ypeuet.jpg
Border N/S in a non-motorway section

But one have to take account of the holiday season! There aren't any mentionable traffic jams on the E6 in the rest of the year, Atleast not worse than on parts of the much more important E20 or RV40.


According to road authorities,

*E6 has an AADT of 8 000 Rabbalshede-Strömstad. 36 km of new motorway to be finished by 2012.


*The E20 between Alingsås and Vårgårda carries an AADT of 15 000 - 20 000! 23 km new motorway needed, construction start unknown but probably not before 2010.

*RV 40 has an AADT of 12 000 between Rångedala and Ulricehamn. 16 km new motorway was originally dued to be finished by 2012, new construction start postponed until after 2011.

So in conclusion; we can see that the E6 is very prioritized!

But one have to take account of the holiday season! There aren't any mentionable traffic jams on the E6 in the rest of the year, Atleast not worse than on parts of the much more important E20 or RV40.


According to road authorities,

*E6 has an AADT of 8 000 Rabbalshede-Strömstad. 36 km of new motorway to be finished by 2012.


*The E20 between Alingsås and Vårgårda carries an AADT of 15 000 - 20 000! 23 km new motorway needed, construction start unknown but probably not before 2010.

*RV 40 has an AADT of 12 000 between Rångedala and Ulricehamn. 16 km new motorway was originally dued to be finished by 2012, new construction start postponed until after 2011.

So in conclusion; we can see that the E6 is very prioritized!

Thank you for these data. I agree with you for E6 Rabbalshede-Strömstad :). But, what about E6 Göteborg? Is it possible to provide AADT for E6 sections near Göteborg?

Thank you for these data. I agree with you for E6 Rabbalshede-Strömstad :). But, what about E6 Göteborg? Is it possible to provide AADT for E6 sections near Göteborg?

I made a map. :D

http://i38.tinypic.com/qnr33d.png

The traffic system in Göteborg is quite a mess, highways lack number signs and many road signs on ordinary highways are even green!

Examples:

Road 159 is not signed as 159, instead it's signed as leading to 158 and E6 and sometimes it's called E 6.20

Road 155 is not number signed at the interchange with E6, though it is signed as 155 in the western direction! to make things even more confusing this road is sometimes called E6.21!

Road 158 on the other hand is not officially a motorway but sometimes signed as one.

To make things worse the roads and interchanges are largely old, curvy and sub-standard.

And now I bring you some holiday photos. :) Not all that good but I was mostly trying to kill time. :)

E4 Nyköping - Norrköping

http://i38.tinypic.com/2rgf5hu.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/10zvins.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/4ptxdt.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2qwl8j5.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/5cn4ic.jpg

Trying to catch some night shots at RV 40, Jönköping - Ulricehamn. E4 & RV40 is the fastest Stockholm - Göteborg link.

2+1

http://i38.tinypic.com/b5039v.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/261kv9g.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/24pezy9.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/4ronk9.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/xmonpd.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/2uf5935.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/ra9obl.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/2zgx5qr.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/rjf8dt.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/w9gnpd.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/200tl6h.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/rhn86t.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/2aahb43.jpg

This part of the road was once of the most lethal roads here, but since then all turns where given separate lanes, speed was reduced to 70, overtaking prohibited and cameras installed and parts where replaced with a shiny new motorway last year but with an ADT of 12 000 it's remains a big bottleneck.

http://i38.tinypic.com/2yv5iiw.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/b6u4g3.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/jb4vm8.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/2hzo8aq.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/140vvwj.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/fjg3ud.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/wlbr81.jpg

I made a map. :D

http://i38.tinypic.com/qnr33d.png

The traffic system in Göteborg is quite a mess, highways lack number signs and many road signs on ordinary highways are even green!

Examples:

Road 159 is not signed as 159, instead it's signed as leading to 158 and E6 and sometimes it's called E 6.20

Road 155 is not number signed at the interchange with E6, though it is signed as 155 in the western direction! to make things even more confusing this road is sometimes called E6.21!

Road 158 on the other hand is not officially a motorway but sometimes signed as one.

To make things worse the roads and interchanges are largely old, curvy and sub-standard.

Thanks for the map, it explains a lot to me.

http://i34.tinypic.com/2i1z5zp.jpg
North of your Göteborg map is an electronic table with travel expectations. Only 11 minutes to exit 73 between the junction with E20 and the junction with Rv40.

http://i34.tinypic.com/10fsx6r.jpg
Point F on your map. So far, so good with the traffic density. Minor alteration is that I could see only see local destinations on the signs.

http://i33.tinypic.com/ek5kb6.jpg
Point E on your map. Here we have to slow down.

http://i38.tinypic.com/16i9p8m.jpg
Point D on your map. Two lanes for E6 going to the bridge to meet road 155. Traffic jam at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I had to stay in this 10 km/h section for at least 5 minutes. Here I can understand ElviS77:


Also, driving the E6 through Göteborg (Gothenburg) is a nightmare. Several massive interchanges in a very short stretch of road, some with exits on the left, makes a complete mess of things. It was jammed for kilometres around noon (and the speed limit was - for no apparent reason - reduced to 30 kph... not that it really made any difference, the traffic moved at 10). Are there plans to make the E6 bypass Göteborg? It seems necessary.

So: do you know any plans for a by-pass or widening?

http://i37.tinypic.com/21j3vip.jpg
Point C on your map. Junction with Rv40. Here we have space enough again, and the trip to the south can be continued with normal speed.

But one have to take account of the holiday season! There aren't any mentionable traffic jams on the E6 in the rest of the year, Atleast not worse than on parts of the much more important E20 or RV40.


According to road authorities,

*E6 has an AADT of 8 000 Rabbalshede-Strömstad. 36 km of new motorway to be finished by 2012.


*The E20 between Alingsås and Vårgårda carries an AADT of 15 000 - 20 000! 23 km new motorway needed, construction start unknown but probably not before 2010.

*RV 40 has an AADT of 12 000 between Rångedala and Ulricehamn. 16 km new motorway was originally dued to be finished by 2012, new construction start postponed until after 2011.

So in conclusion; we can see that the E6 is very prioritized!
We (the Norwegians) do not have any reason to complain (and I do not many do), because of the slight delay on those 46 km between Rabbalshede and Strømstad. To put things in perspective, even after the E6 N/S-border-Oslo is completed, there are roughly 230 km of the Norwegian E6 with AADT higher than 8000 without motorway standard. Even after the 40 km motorway extension north of Oslo, there are quite long lengths of the Norwegian E6 in the Eastern part of the country (north of Oslo) and in Trøndelag with AADT around 15 000 without motorway standard. The perhaps worst example is E6 south of Trondheim, with an AADT of 25 000 on an ordinary two lane/two way road.

Besides, on the E6 south of the N/S border it seems like nine out of ten cars are Norwegian, mostly on their way to buy some cheap bacon or to their holiday home. Almost all traded holiday homes are sold to Norwegians these days. Thus, we buying back this former Norwegian territory bit by bit, and are very happy that the Swedes are fixing the infrastructure for us for free....
Thanks for the map, it explains a lot to me.

[Point D on your map. Two lanes for E6 going to the bridge to meet road 155. Traffic jam at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I had to stay in this 10 km/h section for at least 5 minutes. Here I can understand ElviS77:

This is probably rush-hour in Gothenburg, although the holiday season probably makes the Gothenburg traffic lighter.

Traffic jam at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I had to stay in this 10 km/h section for at least 5 minutes.

Actually, variable speed limit signs near the one in your picture said "30" when I passed through... at 1 or 2 pm in the afternoon. In high summer, when traffic should be lighter. Hopeless, but understandable: Massive junctions with the E20 and E45 almost on top of each other plus the 155 junction just north of the tunnel is a recipe for serious jams. A 3+3 bypass with a new E20/E45 junction would make serious sense. Thus, the current road running basically through the city could be remade into a city boulevard or expressway. But it would be very expensive, obviously: the new 15-km E18 west in Oslo (due beyond 2015) is estimated to set the government - and motorists - back 800-900 million euros.

3+3 bypass with a new E20/E45 junction

This one?

http://publikationswebbutik.vv.se/shopping/ShowItem____2499.aspx

2 February 2007 Plan by the Swedish Road Administration showing Marieholmstunneln Bypass in Göteborg. Here an image from this plan, showing the new E6-E45-E20 connection.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2e3x1fl.jpg

My knowledge of Swedish language is limited. Is there any information when construction will start?

This one?

http://publikationswebbutik.vv.se/shopping/ShowItem____2499.aspx

2 February 2007 Plan by the Swedish Road Administration showing Marieholmstunneln Bypass in Göteborg. Here an image from this plan, showing the new E6-E45-E20 connection.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2e3x1fl.jpg

My knowledge of Swedish language is limited. Is there any information when construction will start?

The green part will probably be built before the yellow one. The yellow part includes an expensive tunnel under the Göta river, as seen in the map. As for construction start there is no final decision yet. We'll know when the infrastructure bill is presentated later this fall. My tip is they'll give this project high priority.

Actually the green part (called Partihallsförbindelsen) has a construction start this autumn. Price 900 MSEK. A company (Skanska) has been given a signed contract to build it. It will take 2 years and finish in 2010. It was delayed for 2 years after the funding was decided because of the NIMBY effect (Not In My Backyard). Someone in the Bagaregården area (near the existing E20 road) did not want more traffic than already is by appealing everything and delaying as much as possible. Normally someone living near a new planned road might appeal and delay a lot, but noone lives near it, it is industrial area, and also railways (already noisy). The people appealing live near the existing road E20.

The yellow part (Marieholmstunneln) is a big improvement in capacity, much more than Partihallsförbindelsen, but costs much more, about 3000 MSEK. No decided time. Both are needed, since Marieholmstunneln without Partihallsförbindelsen would make megajam.

Actually the green part (called Partihallsförbindelsen) has a construction start this autumn. Price 900 MSEK. A company (Skanska) has been given a signed contract to build it. It will take 2 years and finish in 2010.

So we may have less traffic jam for E6 transit traffic here in 2010 :).

it is industrial area, and also railways (already noisy).

Looking at the map at the position of the railway and the planned tunnel, I was thinking why they did not plan the motorway section as a bridge close to the railroad bridge. Would be cheaper.

It would be cheaper with a bridge across the river rather than a tunnel, but the bridge must be openable as the railroad bridge is. So they have preferred a tunnel.

Some random photos taken 19th august... with my brand new iPhone :D


E18 in Karlskoga, my hometown, 2+2 with trafficlights and roundabouts.
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil1.JPG

Lekhyttan, LOOK, a new motorway! (well it's actually very hard to see with this crappy quality :D)
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil2.PNG
You can see some new signs and the road corridor to the left... =)
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil3.PNG

On tha other side of tha construction
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil4.PNG

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil5.PNG

Örebro
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil6.PNG

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil7.PNG

........ zzzzz..... ZZZzzzZZzzZzz ..... zzzz...

..what? what?... Oh, Södertälje! (South of Stockholm)

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil8.PNG

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil9.PNG

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil10.PNG
STOOOOOCKHOOOOLM!!!!
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman01/bil11.PNG

This fall is going to be a good season for Swedish motorways. Several new stretches are opening!

Nice Pics.
Great road quality, and good expansion.
One of the best in Europe I shall say.

The first official (and quite long) 120 km/h stretches are now up. :D

Where are they located? E6/E4 through Southern Sweden?

Here is a map of all the recent speed changes (quite a few of them):


http://www.vv.se/filer/52187/sverige_hast_400_x_ny.gif

Höjd means raised and sänkt means lowered. The average speed in Sweden as a result of these changes has gone down a bit, but it is important to keep in mind that most of the lowerings were on smaller roads, particularly in the northern half of the country. Thus I would guess that in the southern half, the average has gone up, at least on the larger roads.

One will notice that the new E4 stretch north of Uppsala that opened last year is now 120, meaning that hopefully all new motorway stretches under construction are being built to 120 km/h standard (though the new motorway stretches north of Göteborg seem to still be 110).

The arguement for keeping 110 on most motorways is that raising the speed limit to 120 would raise pollution levels, so only roads with a low ADT may see a 120 limit so that the CO2 levels are kept down and in turn the raised CO2 discharges from these roads are compensated by lower limits on other roads to make up for it. rather simplistic reasoning if you ask me!

Swedish volumes outside cities are low anyway, so I doubt if it really would make a difference. The fuel consumption difference between 110 and 120 is not that much. Trucks are another story though. My boss told me they drove 110 km/h in Canada. I guess that's really a gas-guzzling business.

^^That's what I liked about Alaska, really everyone drives at the maximum speed. It might not be fuel efficient, but on busier roads its nice that you don't get 'stuck behind a truck'.

Well, you don't want to hit a moose with 110 kph. However, I doubt if it makes much difference with 100 kph.

I doubt you want to hit a moose at 100 kph, so what? We (me and dad) drove about 120-130 kph in Alaska on the quiet roads. On the relatively busy roads we went with the flow.

Swedish volumes outside cities are low anyway, so I doubt if it really would make a difference. The fuel consumption difference between 110 and 120 is not that much. Trucks are another story though. My boss told me they drove 110 km/h in Canada. I guess that's really a gas-guzzling business.

I don't think trucks are allowed to drive at 110 km/h. For example in Hungary the limit for trucks is 90 km/h on motorways, while it is 130 km/h for cars.

In Sweden the limit for trucks is 80-90 kph, depending on factors such as weight etc. Though they are never allowed to go faster than the signed speed limit.

In other news, drivers on the E18 have reason to be happy this fall.

In the beginning of November,

Motorway E18 Kronoparken - Skattkärr near Karlstad (4/5 km) opens in the next few weeks.

A new E18 stretch of 3.5 km right near the Norwegian border (Hån-Töcksfors) opens this in the next few weeks, 2+1 and for a part 2+2.

Motorway E18 Västjädra-Västerås (6.4 km) opens in November, replacing a particularly tight/annoying stretch there.

Motorway E18 Lekhyttan - Adolfsberg near Örebro (18.5 km) opens in December.

Another E18 stretch is being upgraded to motorway near Västerås/Enköping (which will bypass one of the two worst E18 stretches, a place where the speed limit is 50 km/h). E18 Sagån-Enköping is approximately 15km long and will open in fall 2010.

http://www.nwt.se/ArticlePages/200809/23/20080923162948_NWT009/20080923162948_NWT009.dbp.asp

:)

http://www.na.se/artikel.asp?intId=1394541

Yay!

I don't speak Swedish, but I think it says that the new E18 will open next monday :cheers:
btw, Swedish seems to be quite 'similar' to Dutch.

It says a part of the new stretch of E18 will open next Monday, the rest not until December 22nd. The total length is 18,5 km and 10 of them are included now.

Swedish and Dutch are indeed very similar, because they're both Germanic languages. But it's a bit hard for Swedes to understand when Dutch people talk... :D

^^Same the other way around :D

Yeah, I can read Danish and Swedish, but to understand when I listen to it is a whole other thing though.

When I hear Swedish or Danish it sounds quite much like German IMO

Dec 22...awfully close to Christmas! I guess most probably won't be going home before Dec 22 itself so it'll open right on time.

During last 2 weeks, I did some 2000 km on those nice roads in Sweden and took some pictures:

E4 heading to Norrköping:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050086.jpg

My car broke down just 10 minutes after taking this shot. Thanks to Peugeot and AXA, I spent nice 3 days in Norrköping and the surrounding countryside.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050087.jpg

E20, heading from Varberg to Malmö:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050184.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050185.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050186.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050187.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050188.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050189.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050190.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050191.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050192.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050193.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050194.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050195.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050196.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050198.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050199.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050200.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050201.jpg

Getting close to the bridge toll gate:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050202.jpg

And... THE BRIDGE!

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050203.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050204.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050206.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050208.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050209.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050212.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050213.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050215.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050217.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050218.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050220.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050222.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050223.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050224.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050225.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050227.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050228.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050229.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050230.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050231.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050232.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z244/ptalas/SW_DK/P1050234.jpg

Very nice pics. I didn't get the Turning Torso that clear on my shots a year ago.

What about your car?

Very nice pics. I didn't get the Turning Torso that clear on my shots a year ago.

What about your car?

I used my Panasonic FZ7 with 12x zoom while cruising just 50 kmph so the pictures are surprisingly sharp. Also, it was very nice weather outside which helped me a lot.

My car was our company's P807, a crappy piece of s*** that should be scrapped as soon as possible. I had two failures that cost me 1.5k euro to fix and forced me to stay 5 more days.

BTW, I've seen many places where two wires were placed across the road, what are they for?

You mean wires that count the amount of traffic passing by?