The Swedish Transport Administration is forced to postpone the route between Djäkneboda and Bygdeå. The reason is that there was only one tender to get the project done - and that tender was too expensive.

- We had to cancel and reverse a step, says Gunilla Björklund, project manager at the Swedish Transport Administration.

The authority will now redeploy the scheme to the contractors, which it is hoped will attract more stakeholders.

- We chose the form where we place greater responsibility on the contractor, but that may mean that not as many tenders are submitted. Plus, the West Link in Umeå was out at the same time, which is a very big job. The companies choose what they want to put their gun on, says Björklund.

1.5 mil lacks funding

E4 is planned to be expanded in stages and plans and money are available for large parts of E4. But the start of construction for many sections is at least five years ahead. Two routes - just over 1.5 km - are not included in the Swedish Transport Administration's plans, which extend through 2029 and lack full funding.

The routes on E4 for which there is funding today, according to the Swedish Transport Administration, are as follows:

  • Djäkneboda - Bygdeå - Construction is scheduled to start next year.
  • Sikeå - Gumboda - Construction start no earlier than 2021.
  • Gumboda - Grimsmark - is included in the National Plan for Infrastructure Measures 2018-2029 for action in 2024-2029, roadmap development is ongoing.
  • Broänge - Ljusvattnet - is included in the National Plan for Infrastructure Measures 2018-2029 for action in 2024-2029, roadmap development is ongoing.

The Grimsmark - Broänge and Ljusvattnet - Yttervik (Bureå) stretches currently lack funding and the projects are dormant.

The red marked lanes are the lanes that the Swedish Transport Administration wants to reduce the speed of while waiting for the roads to be expanded with center separation. The proposal is now out for a referral. Photo: The Swedish Transport Administration