The contract is for a new road section from Svinesund on the Swedish border to Svingenskogen, and involves the construction of 4.2 km of a four-lane motorway and repair of adjacent roads. The work includes two grade-separated interchanges, two underbridges and three overbridges. This means that 270,000 m3 of rock is to be blasted out, 220,000 m3 is to be removed and 210,000 m3 is to be filled back. The new road section will require as much as 11,000 tonnes of reinforcement, 12,000 m3 of concrete and 50,000 tonnes of asphalt.

The construction period is two years. The new road will be officially opened on the same date as the new Svinesund Bridge, i.e. 7 June 2005, which is the centenary of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden.

"This contract comes at a very convenient time for us. We are now able to maintain the continuity of our operations and secure work for our employees in Østfold. The E-6 project through Østfold is therefore very important to us," says Veidekke's Regional Manager,

Mr. Harald Sangnes.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Harald Sangnes, Regional Manager,

Veidekke Entreprenør AS, phone + 47 21 05 74 65

Mr. Lars Hovland, Department Manager,

Veidekke Entreprenør AS, phone + 47 69 10 27 00