Before Easter, the vice-chancellor at NTNU in Ålesund invited to an information and input meeting. Information was given about road projects in planning from the road authority, and the first sketches of what could take the form of a new square on Campus were presented.
Among others present were Sit in Ålesund, Fagskolen Møre og Romsdal, Ålesund high school, representatives from Ålesund cultural school, Ålesund Kommunale Eiendomselskap KF (ÅKE), Westregruppen, Statsbygg, NTNU and from the planning and building department of the municipality.
Olav Johannes Megrund from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration gave a useful and good briefing on progress and plans along the axis of the E136, which will be opened to traffic in 2027.
Olav Johannes Megrund from the Norwegian Road Administration gives orientation (photo EATvergrov).
– What is currently underway of road work east from Moa and beyond Lerstad will be completed, said Megrund at the meeting. But he stressed at the meeting that when it comes to what will be the progress for the implementation of what was presented for the extension to the Campus, it is difficult to give an answer now. It will have to wait until political processes related to the Ålesund City Package are completed now in April.
There was thus no one else at this meeting who could give a more concrete answer regarding expectations and possibilities for realization. At the time of writing, we see that the case “City package Ålesund – adjustment of tariffs due to price growth» will be considered in the County Council on 9 April (case number 45/24). We are also aware that the issue of finances for the entire Bypakken will be raised in the steering group of Bypakken Ålesund during the next few weeks.
Shared lanes and reduced travel time by public transport
The Swedish Road Administration started its engineering for the E136 Lerstad to Campus back in 2023. At the meeting in March, it was shown that according to the plan, the aim is to complete up to the Campus by 2026-2027.
Upon completion, the city will have a road extension 2.8 kilometers westwards in an extension from Lerstad, with a four-lane road where buses are prioritized. Skuggenhaugen just before the Campus will have a new tunnel run and there will be a new bridge over the Nørvasundet for the E136.
Traffic flow changes and makes room for Campustorg
New arrivals and supply roads at Nørvasundet mean that heavier road traffic is moved to the sides, and the load through the Campus itself is reduced. According to the plan, the entire street through the Campus will be updated and better facilitated for light road users. The speed will decrease and the stop here on Campus will be central as an attractive public transport hub together with the city centre, the hospital and Moa.
The area between the buildings on both sides of Borgundvegen will thus also be safer to travel in and more accessible. This is how it is arranged so that we can create a holistic Campus Square, and develop the area we have along this stretch of road as a positive side effect of the road authority’s work.
Two-lane cycle path and new cycle parking
Students and everyone else get, with a complete and completed project, a completely new and safer cycle path through the Campus along Borgundvegen. In the long term, this can be continued via Sørneset and Nørvevika to the planned cycle path from Volsdalsneset to Meierikaia and the city centre.
The cycle path is planned in two directions with a width of approx. five metres, with pavements (separated from each other) and follows the north side of Borgundvegen down to the new square in front of NTNU. From the square, a pedestrian and cycle bridge will be built over the new roundabout up to the current cycle path on the south side of the Nørvasund bridge.
The campus is also getting a completely new covered bicycle parking lot under the new bridge. This can then be placed below the building where Ålesund cultural school is located (and which they now no longer need to demolish to get the road system up). This was well received by the assembly.
Collective hub and location of square on Campus
Håvard Skorild from Statsbygg, together with Trude Solberg and hired architect Ann Kristine Anesen from LARK Link presented preliminary sketches for Campustorg. In other words, the first rough sketches of something that can become. The presentation was followed by a good discussion about possibilities.
Themes included main walkways (stairs) and walkways between the bus stops and the square. Furthermore, the main entrance to the NTNU building to the south, which will be realized at the end of 2024, as well as the space outside the canteen were discussed. Can adaptations be carried out in the direction of Sundebygget? What about the main axis from north to south and new solutions on the south side of Borgundvegen?
The campus square can become a place to stay outside for students, employees and everyone else who travels in the area on a daily basis, to and from bus stops and activities inside the Campus. Students who practice at the cultural school, those who live in the area and those who come from the bus pass here. Here she and he are sitting down a bit in a warm zone within the building mass. Here are those who buy hot drinks in the canteen and sit at a table outside waiting for someone who will arrive soon.
The meeting in March was a first briefing to ensure the best possible starting point for what is to happen in terms of formal participation and co-determination. Briefings are now given internally at NTNU to ÅSAM (local cooperation body in Ålesund) and SAMU (local working environment committee). Furthermore, the matter must first be presented to the property director at NTNU.
The plan map showing the area plan adopted in May 2020 for Campus Ålesund.