The coastal Atlantic Ocean Road is a must do
Located in the midwest part of the Norwegian coastline, the Atlantic Road is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Driving along this road is like teetering on the edge of the sea. The curvy road dips and arches over the brutal waves of the Norwegian Sea that often crash over the pavement during storms. This unique highway will bring you out to the very farthest point where the land ends and the ocean begins.
How long is the Atlantic Road?
The Atlantic Road is part of the 36 km long Atlanterhavsvegen (Roads 64/242/663/238/235). The road's roller coaster-feel, curvy bridges and phenomenal views have made it a favorite of road trippers and motorcyclists. The construction of the road started on August 1983 and it took six years to be finished. Its 8 breath-taking (and sometimes terrifying) bridges has become one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. The weather in the area is also unpredictable and harsh with visibility disappearing quickly, strong winds, and sudden temperature drops. This road has been heralded as one of the most spectaculars roads in the world by the dangerousroads.org users. It links the towns of Kristiansund and Molde, the two main population centers in the county of Møre og Romsdal in Fjord Norway. It starts approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Kristiansund and ends 47 kilometers north of Molde. It’s a very popular tourist attraction in the country. It was also designated a Cultural Heritage Site, is considered a National Tourist Route, and has been recognized as the Norwegian Construction of the Century. It's one of the famous scenic drives in Norway.
When was the Atlantic Ocean Road built?
The road includes 8 bridges with a total length of 891 metres. The construction of the road started on August 1983 and the construction took six years. It was opened on 7 July 1989. During construction the area was hit by 12 European windstorms. The road was opened on July, 7th 1989. The first ten years the drivers had to pay toll to drive on it, but since 26th of june 1999 (at 03:00 p.m.) the road has been toll-free. The surface of the road is asphalt and had a cost of 122 million Norwegian krone. The Atlanterhavsveien is built on several small islands and is spanned by eight bridges and several landfills. The route was originally proposed as a railway line in the early 20th century, but this was abandoned. The Atlantic Road, known as Atlanterhavsveien in Norwegian, is just about the most scenic route one could imagine. There are several panoramic views- and rest areas with facilities in bold architectural forms along the Atlantic Road. Here you can experience both nature and architecture in great interaction. Some of the viewing platforms are also popular with anglers. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. It has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards, and driving under these conditions, can be extremely challenging. This road has an open sea view which is not so common for roads along the Norwegian coast. Here the distance between the islands was so small that a road could be built across the archipelago. In addition there are fjords and mountains inside the road.
More info:
www.theatlanticroad.com