From the beginning, it was thought that the bridge would cost three and a half billion. But it is said to be even more expensive.

A single invoice, which was submitted on 1 July, ends at almost SEK 318 million (including VAT). All items in that invoice relate to so-called change and additional work.

Not paid

The due date for the bill was July 31, but it has not yet been paid. The traffic office in Gothenburg, which ordered the bridge, has objections and disputes the costs.

- We agree that it is a lot of money. That is why we are careful to get it proven that these extra costs are really our responsibility, says Christer Niland, head of "Large projects" at the Traffic Office.

Skanska, which has been commissioned to build the bridge, demands payment for the actual additional costs it claims to have had. The costs are mainly about changes and new specifications that have come during the project.

Turned up tone mode

The conflict is about a year old and is now approaching a critical point. The tone is turned up. It appears from the correspondence and documentation in the case that SVT Nyheter Väst has read. In several places, Skanska Trafikkontoret's questions the competence to run such complicated projects. There is talk of inadequate data, lack of self-insight and inability. The tone is almost irreconcilable.

"The way in which the Swedish Transport Administration carried out the design and planning management of the contract has not reached the standard and professionalism required to carry out and lead a construction project of Hisingsbron's scope and complexity," writes Per-Ola Svahn, regional manager for Large Projects in the West at Skanska, among others.

He further writes that the Swedish Transport Administration "lacks the necessary competence to realize the extent of the extensive consequences that have arisen as a result of the Swedish Transport Administration's changes to the steel structure."

Better conversational climate

At the Traffic Office, people seem to take the harsh words calmly.

- There is a harsh, bureaucratic tone in these letters, but I do not think it reflects our conversational climate. It's better, says Christer Niland.

If the Swedish Transport Administration does not pay, Skanska reserves the right to interrupt the work, with all the consequences it would entail. But so far the work continues.

Per-Ola Svahn says that Skanska is focused on resolving the issue. It is also the Traffic Office. In the first place, both parties hope to have a negotiating group that can go through everything and find a way forward. If this does not succeed, the conflict may be decided in court.