Teenagers in Øygarden move away due to traffic congestion caused by long-term road work

Sixteen-year-old Anna Rong has decided to move out of her home to avoid the long traffic queues caused by road work between Sotra and Bergen. The Mayor of Øygarden, Tom Georg Indrevik, has expressed concern over the increasing number of youths in Øygarden choosing to move due to the traffic congestion. The road work on Highway 555, which began in 2022, is scheduled to be completed on June 1, 2027.

To reduce the number of cars on the road, the municipality plans to offer more public transportation. However, this measure has not been fully implemented after two years of road work and traffic congestion. Anna’s mother, Olaug Rong, is worried about her daughter moving out at such a young age and has prepared her for living alone.

Anna Rong, who had spent her first year of high school in Sotra, a place 50 minutes away from Bergen by public transport, is moving to an apartment to avoid spending her teenage years commuting. If it weren’t for the traffic, Anna would have chosen to commute. While she is somewhat apprehensive about living alone in an apartment after school, she is not alone in her decision to move.

The traffic queues are highly unpredictable, making it impossible to calculate commute times. Remi Marthinsen, who regularly drives between Øygarden and Bergen, says that his usual 32-minute commute has sometimes taken him 2 hours.

Mayor Indrevik admits that the increasing number of teenagers moving away is problematic. The local authorities are considering building a school in the municipality to keep more youths in the area. However, the school will not be completed until at least 2030.

The municipality is also trying to reduce the number of cars on the road by offering more public transport. Despite two years of roadwork and traffic congestion, this measure has not yet been fully implemented. Anna’s mother, Olaug Rong, is apprehensive about her daughter’s move, saying it’s too early for a 16-year-old to live alone.