One hundred years after Norway and Sweden parted, King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit met King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria on the new bridge that unites Norwegians and Swedes, thus illustrating the peaceful and warm relations between Norway and Sweden. The opening of the bridge marked the beginning of the Swedish King and Queen’s visit to Norway on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the peaceful dissolution of the union.
The dissolution of the union in 1905
The atmosphere during the meeting between the two countries’ heads of state was a lot more relaxed than in June 1905, which was full of drama and political tension.
Norway and Sweden had been united since 1814. It was the issue of an independent foreign policy, or rather Norway’s right to establish a separate consular service, that brought the Norwegian-Swedish union to an end. The Storting, the Norwegian parliament, adopted an act establishing a Norwegian consular service, which King Oscar II refused to sanction. This resulted in the Storting’s decision of 7 June, which in practice meant the dissolution of the union. An overwhelming majority of Norwegians voted for dissolution in a referendum held that summer. Shortly thereafter, the Norwegian and Swedish delegates met for negotiations in Karlstad. Military forces had been mobilised on both sides of the border, but the negotiations succeeded and the union was brought to a peaceful end.
Prince Carl of Denmark, who was married to the British princess Maud, consented to become the new king of Norway. The royal couple arrived in Oslo, which was called Kristiania at the time, on 25 November 1905 with their son Olav, who would later become the father of Harald, the present king of Norway.
Entertainment for young and old
The opening of the new Svinesund Bridge was celebrated on the bridge itself for two days, on 10 and 11 June. More than 3000 primary and lower secondary school pupils from both sides of the border took part in the festivities. More than 200 cooks and waiters training at vocational schools provided lunch to nearly 1000 invited guests, including the royal guests from both countries. On 11 June the Svinesund Race crossed the bridge, which was only open to pedestrians and cyclists. Children’s and family activities and entertainment continued throughout the day, which ended with a dance held on the bridge. On Sunday 12 June the bridge was opened to normal traffic.
15 000 vehicles a day
The bridge is the result of a co-operation project between the road authorities in Norway and Sweden. It includes two kilometres of new motorway in Sweden and four kilometres of new motorway in Norway in addition to the bridge itself. It is one of the main points of entry into Norway and is 704 metres long, with a 246-metre span. In the past 15 000 vehicles a day, of which 2000 were heavy lorries, crossed the old Svinesund bridge, which only had two lanes. The new four-lane bridge can handle twice the amount of traffic.