NPRA awards Fugro major contract

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) has awarded Fugro a contract worth 111 million NOK for environmental measurements in connection with the planned Coastal Highway (Route E39).

The NPRA was commissioned by the Norwegian Government to conduct planning and studies into improving the standard of the E39, which currently includes 7 fjord crossings operated by ferries. The fjords vary in depth from 550 m to 1300 m (Sognefjord) and are up to 4 km wide.

The NPRA is looking at various options to replace the ferries, including suspension bridges, floating bridges, and submerged floating tunnels.

The Fugro contract is related to three of the fjords - Sulafjord, Vartdalsfjord and Halsafjord. It comprises measurements of onshore and offshore wind profiles, ocean surface waves, ocean internal waves (subsea), and ocean current profiles.

To provide wind profiling, several 80-100 m tall wind masts will be situated onshore, and LiDAR-equipped metocean buoys will be deployed offshore.

A new method, involving the use of several LiDARs, will measure both wind speed profiles and turbulence above the fjords, providing better information about the wind forces on the roadway between bridge towers.

Fugro will conduct the measurement project with contributions from highly qualified suppliers in Norway, including R&D institutions.

The measurements will run continuously from the planning phase until the bridges are commissioned.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/02062016/npra-awards-fugro-11-million-nok-contract-2561/