One of Fjord Norway's biggest attractions for road trippers is closed for 2024. It will pose problems for those planning to drive to the Geirangerfjord.
This world-famous image of people looking at the hairpin bends snaking up the mountainside at Trollstigen draws huge numbers of drivers to the northern part of the western fjords region every year.
There are often issues with rockfall but this year things are so bad that the road must be closed for the entire season.
Trollstigen opened late this year, in early June, because of high snowfall in Norway this winter. However, in just ten days, six rockfalls were recorded.
The risk of someone being hit by rockfall is now so great that the municipality has made the decision to close the road until safety measures are implemented. Essentially, this means the road is closed for the rest of this summer season.
“We have had so many incidents that it is not justifiable to keep it open. Now we just have to stop before someone gets seriously injured or loses their life,” says county road chief Ole Jan Tønnesen to NRK.
Introducing Trollstigen
Trollstigen is a mountain pass, part of county road 63 in Møre og Romsdal. The full 55km road connects Valldal in Sunnmøre with Åndalsnes in Romsdal. With its iconic, winding hairpin turns, Trollstigen attracts tourists from all over the world every year.
Trollstigen is one of Norway's 18 designated national scenic routes. Opened in 1936, the pass has eleven hairpin turns and reaches 850 meters above sea level.
Due to snow conditions, Trollstigen is closed each winter. It usually reopens for the season in May or as late as early June.
A Necessary Closure
After a rock hit a car on the tourist road on Monday, both the Møre og Romsdal county and the contractor assessed the risk and looked at possible measures. Geologists have also examined the area around the tourist road.
Only Trollstigen itself will be closed. The Trollstigen plateau will be accessible from the Valldal side of county road 63.
Trollstigen is one of the most popular tourist routes in the country. In 2019, there were over 1.1 million visitors to the mountain pass. Unfortunately, tourist businesses on either side of the pass now face a difficult summer.
“That is part of the reason why we have tried for several years, and also this year, to keep this road open, precisely because it is so important for the community. But we simply have to say stop now because we are insecure about life and health. Life and health come first,” Tønnesen told NRK.
We are due to do a shore excursion next week on the Troll Road. Do you know what the tour companies are doing that have scheduled tours up to the top of the Troll Road.
That’s a question for the tour company!
We have planned to take that route, Skei to Geiranger, in late August. If the road’s status improves, please give your readers an update. Thanks!