By Ashley Karen
Bergen city council has confirmed programs for constructing a 12·7 km extension of the Bybanen light rail network from Kaigaten in the city center north to Vågsbotn in Åsane.
Subsequent to the council decision on May 31, the project promoter, Bybanen Utbygging, signed an NKr1·1bn contract for the CORAV consortium of COWI Norge, Ramboll and Asplan Viak to take up design work for the line.
The scheduled way to Åsane composes the fifth phase of the Bybanen construction program.
The project’s cost is said to be NKr21bn, comprising 14 stops and 5·7 km of tunnel, plus a 13 km cycle route and a 3 km extension of the Fløyfjells road tunnel.
Ridership is envisioned to be 60 000 passengers/day in 2040, with a travel time of almost 25 min from the city center to Vågsbotn.
The construction could begin in 2024 for completion in 2032 at the earliest.
