Haparanda/Tornio – Tromsø (Northern Lights Route)

(Roads: E8 and National Road 99) (Railway: Tornio – Kolari line) a significant increase is expected up to 2023: • Close to Tromsø on the E8, construction of about 10 km of new road in Ramfjorden is planned. A new access road will be built to the port terminal in Breivika/Tromsø. • Work on modification/improvement of the most difficult gradients in Skibotndalen in Norway has already begun in 2013, thereby removing one of the worst bottlenecks. • Improvement works are planned on some stretches between Skibotn and the national border with Finland through to 2023. As part of this work, the second bottleneck in Skibotndalen will be removed. • Significant modification/improvement of the E6/E8 at the southernmost part of the stretch between Skibotn – Nordkjosbotn is expected during the same period. This will provide considerable improvement in accessibility and reduced travel time. • Planned Finnish measures are mainly focused on the northernmost section between Palojoensuu and Kilpisjärvi. The road should be widened and both vertical and horizontal curvature improved. In many places the load-bearing capacity should also be improved. The costs are estimated to be EUR 50 million, but no decision has been made with regard to financing. • National Road 99 is being reconstructed from 2013-2015 between Kaunisvaara and Autio due to the mining expansion in the area.