Norway’s new road to Russia

The Norwegian government in its budget proposal for 2009 includes five million NOK for the planning of a new road from the border town of Kirkenes to the Russian border. The allocation means that the government intends to include the 10 km long road in its National Transport Plan, an infrastructure priority document for the period 2011-2019. Regional authorities have long argued that the Norwegian part of the E-105, which stretches across the Norwegian-Russian border, needs upgrades in order to meet major new demands in cross-border travel. Meanwhile, from the Russian side, both federal and regional authorities have the last couple of years invested comprehensively in new roads towards Norway. Only this summer, about 70 km of the Russian part of the E-105 got new asphalt. In addition, regional authorities are investing in the upgrades of the alternative and more southern Prirechny road. With the new roads, land-based transport operations between Norway and Russia look set to take a leap ahead. The improved infrastructure will subsequently spur demands for efficiency measures in the two countries’ customs stations.