The stretch of the E22 Målbäcken-Gladhammar in Kalmar County will be a meeting-free road with a central barrier. But as SVT was able to report on Wednesday, the Swedish Transport Administration has stopped the construction plans on parts of the route, due to the fact that the project has become more expensive.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden, together with representatives of OKG and Scania in Oskarshamn, among others, has now written an open letter in protest.
"It's important for us that freight transport can take place in a safe and efficient way, but it's also important for our employees that they can commute to and from work safely," says Peter Magnusson, site manager at Scania in Oskarshamn to SVT.
Hear more about the criticism of the paused road investments in Kalmar County in the clip.
The Swedish Transport Administration: "Will respond"
According to the Swedish Transport Administration, the cost of the project has increased sharply and therefore the construction of the last stretch is paused.
"The project now exceeds SEK 100 million, so it must be included in a national infrastructure plan. We can't just keep going, we have to take into account the limit of SEK 100 million," says Peter Sieurin, urban planner at the Swedish Transport Administration.
According to Peter Sieurin, the entire project began as early as 2012, but for various reasons was delayed, which meant that the cost also increased over time.
"We are extremely well aware that the E22 is important for southern Sweden, we will respond to the letter," says Peter Sieurin at the Swedish Transport Administration.