The tunnel of Bloedekjaer, which is 920 m long, was opened May
10th, 1995.
The tunnel is located below the hills of Bloedekjaer from Myrene
to Barbudalen, with exits halfway to Bloedekjaer/Vestregate.
The purpose of the tunnel:
- To reduce the traffic downtown, with queues, barriers, noise
and exhaust. And to improve the security and the environment in
the town.
- Less traffic downtown also increase
flexibility when it comes to future development.
- To reduce the heavy traffic passing the hospital of
Aust-Agder, thereby reducing both noise and air pollution for
the patients.
To obtain full effect of the tunnel, there had to be done
precautions to reduce traffic passing through downtown Arendal. More
one-way traffic and pedestrian streets were built. The localisation
of the new library and the car facilities were also parts of the
plan to make the traffic run smoother.
Positive effects brought by the new tunnel of Bloedekjaer:
- Reduction of the traffic downtown.
- Pedestrian streets along Pollen.
- Pedestrian streets in Kirkegaten.
- Easier to drive in town.
- Footbridge in Barbudalen to make the
access to downtown better.
- Better access to the train station.
- Making Barbudalen and the train station
area prettier.
- Better environment around the hospital.
OTHER PLANNED TUNNELS
In the municipality plan for 1999-2010, it is proposed to build a
tunnel from Myrene to P-house west. This will be of great
signification for downtown environment.
It is also suggested to make a tunnel to Tyholmen from
Kittelsbukt, this will remove the traffic in front of the city
church, and the tunnel can be combined with a car facility under
Tyholmen.
