Hazardous road conditions are causing widespread travel disruptions across eastern and central Norway Friday evening. Reports indicate up to 20 vehicles have left the roadway near Lekvik, and numerous other incidents – including a truck and car collision in Buskerud – are straining emergency services. Authorities are urging extreme caution for motorists as slippery conditions, particularly north of Trondheim and in the Innlandet region, continue to worsen.
Traffic problems are developing Friday evening across eastern and central Norway due to hazardous road conditions.
- As many as 20 vehicles have left the roadway near Lekvik on County Road 715.
- Extremely slippery conditions are reported throughout central Norway, particularly north of Trondheim.
- Vehicles are sliding off roads in the Innlandet region.
- A truck and a passenger car collided in Gulsvik, Buskerud.
20 Vehicles Off Road at Same Location
Table of Contents
Authorities received reports of the incident at approximately 6:24 p.m. local time.
“The conditions on site are very slippery,” said Martin Hammervik Aarhoug. “The priority has been to assist those involved, secure the scene, and prevent more vehicles from leaving the road.”
Three vehicles are currently blocking the roadway, he added.
“These vehicles cannot move under their own power. Efforts are underway to remove them. The other vehicles are in the ditch. A contractor will attempt to spread sand on the roadway to improve conditions. Currently, the tow truck cannot safely descend because it is too slippery and several of the vehicles are obstructing the path,” Aarhoug explained.
In Indre Fosen, Trøndelag, up to 20 vehicles have reportedly left County Road 715 near Leksvik.
“The scene is secured and stretches approximately 150 meters,” Aarhoug stated.
He also noted that conditions at the location are extremely slippery.
“Work is being done to prevent new vehicles from entering the area,” Aarhoug said.
- Do you have photos, video or information about what is happening on site? Contact our journalists here.
- Do you have photos, video or tips about what is happening on site? Tip us!
“Very Slippery”
“There are some places that are very slippery right now,” said Kim Jørgen Benan, a traffic operator at the traffic control center in central Norway.
The center is receiving scattered reports from across the region. Conditions are worst north of Trondheim.
Shortly before 8 p.m. local time Friday, the Mid-Norway traffic control center had received reports from the Fosen peninsula, the Levanger area and Inderøy.
“What can you say about the accident in Leksvik?”
“Yes, it seems like there is a particular stretch where the weather has changed. It is very slippery along Storvatnet, on County Road 715.”
Innlandet: Vehicles Sliding Off Roads
Traffic problems are also reported in many places in the Innlandet region.
“Police in Innlandet have received many inquiries about cars that have slid off the road, cars and trucks that are stopped, and traffic congestion as a result,” said operations leader Bård Einar Hoft.
He added that the reports are coming from across the district.
“The roads in Innlandet are very slippery in many places and we urge motorists to drive with extreme caution,” Hoft said.
“Extremely Long Queue”
There has also been an accident on National Road 7 in Flå, Buskerud, where a truck collided with a passenger car near the Circle K in Gulsvik.
Police say there are long queues in both directions.
“Those involved are being cared for by medical personnel. The passenger car is in the ditch, the truck is in the lane.”
VG spoke with Marthe Krekling Mathiesen, who was stuck in the queue.
“We just turned around and are driving back. There is an extremely long queue. It lasted at least five kilometers. It’s frustrating, we were actually on our way to the cabin,” she said.
“Several Cars Off Road”
The Eastern Traffic Control Center has received many reports of slippery roads, especially between Elverum and Rena on National Road 3.
“It’s very slippery,” said Trude Lindstad, a traffic operator, who has received unconfirmed reports of several cars leaving the road.
“There are reports of several trucks and cars leaving the road, just north of Elverum, at Øksna, but we have not had it confirmed by emergency services,” she told VG.
It is unclear if police have arrived at the scene.
“We don’t have eyes on the ground there, but looking at the map, traffic is slow, and we have received many reports from other motorists that it is very slippery.”
Contractors, the vehicles that spread sand, are out there applying grit, which is one of the tools they have to improve driving conditions, she said.
