Norway’s mountain road known as Trollstigen in Romsdal, famed for its hairpin turns, could finally reopen this week. Those waiting on bikes, in their cars and recreational vehicles are likely to be followed by as many as a million tourists this summer.
Hundreds of motorcycles and camping vans were lined up on Thursday to be among the first to drive up and down Trollstigen, which normally reopens in May. This year, however, large portions of the road and the relatively new lookout point and café at the top of the mountain were badly damaged by avalanches during the winter.
When road crews routinely showed up last month to reopen the road, it was deemed impossible. Then, as they worked to clear the road and repair the café, they were halted by a sudden rockslide.
That made it important to ensure that the road was not only clear but stable. Roar Vikhagen, leader of the local road crew, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that he’d never seen so much avalance and slide damage. “This must be a record-late opening,” he said, but now the summer driving season is well underway.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
