Atlantic Ocean Road (Norway)

Situated in Norway, The Atlantic Road (in Norwegian called Atlanterhavsveien) is a part of Norwegian national road 64 (Rv 64). It is close to the cities of Molde and Kristiansund in the midwest part of the Norwegian coastline. This fantastic and spectacular road is a very popular tourist attraction. Both the local population and tourist visitors frequently use the road to go fishing for cod and other fish directly from the bridges. One of the bridges is special designed for fishing.

The 8.3 km (5 mile) road, with 8 bridges of a total length of 891 metres, is built on several small islands and skerries, and is spanned by eight bridges and several landfills. This road has an open sea view which is not so common for roads along the Norwegian coast. Here the distance between the islands was so small that a road could be built across the archipelago. In addition there are fjords and mountains inside the road.

The Atlantic Road zigzags across low bridges that jut out over the sea, linking the islands between Molde (famous for its annual jazz festival in July) and Kristiansund in the western fjords. The Hustadvika is an infamous stretch of ocean and when in storm it is truly dramatic. In calmer weather you might spot whales and seals, writes the British newspaper The Guardian (25 April 2006).

Chosen as "Norway's construction of the century" in 2005, the road links together small coastal communities. From the town of Kristiansund, the Atlantic Road is only a 30-minute drive through the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel. After passing the tunnel you cross the island of Averøy with Kvernes Stave Church, the very scenic west side of the island, and the incredible coastline out towards Hustadvika.

The Atlantic Road has been awarded the status national tourist route because of the architecture of the road and the bridges, and the incredible coastline it passes through.

The Atlantic Road's sharp turns and wild nature have ranked it first on The Guardian's list of the world's best road trips, in sharp competition with world renowned attractions such as Northern Ireland's Antrim coast road and the Himalayas.

The construction started 1 August 1983 and was marked by the struggle against the elements. During the six-year duration of the works were recorded up to 12 hurricane category storms. Finally the road was opened on the 7th of July 1989.

The first ten years the drivers had to pay toll to drive on it, but since 26th of june 1999 (at 03:00 p.m.) the road has been toll-free.

There are four panoramic view- and rest areas with facilities in bold architectural forms along the Atlantic Road. Here you can experience both nature and architecture in great interaction. Some of the viewing platforms are also popular with anglers.

The road rides above some rough and uneven surfaces and it’s spectacular because it rises itself and falls at many places like a sea at the time of a rough tide. Apart from the incredible road itself, the scenery surrounding it could give any driver shivers.

In 1935, the railway plans definitely was set aside. But not until the 70's, the plans where again put into action, this time as a road project, and the 1 August 1983 started the construction work.