- We think it is gratifying that experts outside the region see the potential in this, and we are happy to take a closer look at this, says Mathias Lindström, head of the Kvarken Council about a Kvarken bridge.
The investigation carried out by the Finnish experts Esa Eranti and Antti Talvitie has been presented in the newspaper Vasabladet this week and once again raises the issue of a bridge between Sweden and Finland.
The experts suggest that a bridge should either be built from Björköby to Ostnäs or between Holmsund and Klobbskat. The bridge would mean that you would get from Umeå to Vaasa in one hour.
- Ship traffic is sensitive to disturbances, such as strikes. For goods north of Tampere, the Kvarken connection would save a lot of time, more than ten hours when you avoid the ferry timetables, says Antti Talvitie to Vasabladet.
This is not the first time that the question of a bridge over the Kvarken has been raised. For several decades, the bridge has been an issue that both Swedish and Finnish regional politicians have discussed, but in recent years the idea has been on ice.
- We have done several investigations around a bridge, but in the last ten years we have focused on the ferry connection. But a bridge is not a short-term project and until we have a bridge in place, it is good that we have invested in ferry transport, says Mathias Lindström.
You say you have invested in a ferry, do you need a bridge?
- Why would it not be needed? If it strengthens the business community in the region then why should it not be needed? If we want the region to develop, we need to invest in developing the infrastructure, says Lindström.
- The ferry will be launched soon, then it is important to continue investing, we are also looking at electric aircraft, says Åsa Ågren Wikström (M), who is a member of the Kvarken Council.