European route E39 is the designation of a long north–south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Bergen, Stavanger and Kristiansand. In total there are nine ferries, the highest number of ferries for a single road in Europe. In Trondheim, there are connections to E6 and E14. In Ålesund, to E136, in Bergen to E16, in Haugesund, to E134, in Kristiansand to E18, and in Aalborg to E45.
Norwegian part
In Norway, E39 is part of Norwegian national road system, and is as such developed and maintained by the public roads administration. E39 is mostly a two-lane undivided road, only relatively short sections near Stavanger, Trondheim and Bergen are motorways or semi-motorways.
The E39 ferries are operated byFjord1 except the Volda-Folkestad ferry, which is operated by Norled. Domestic car ferries on the E39 are regarded as an integral part of national highways. Ferries operate according to a published timetable and standard prices for vehicles and passengers. The E39 includes the following ferry routes from North to South : ;Halsa - Kanestraum 20 min. ;Molde - Vestnes 35 min. ;Solevåg - Festøya 20 min. ;Volda - Folkestad 10 min. ;Anda - Lote 10 min. ;Lavik - Oppedal 20 min. ;Halhjem - Sandvikvåg 45 min. ;Arsvågen - Mortavika 25 min. International car ferry operated by Color Line: and Fjord Line. ;Kristiansand - Hirtshals 3 hours 15 minutes The Norwegian government plans to replace all the ferries in Norway with bridges and tunnels. This involves some of the longest proposed bridge spans.
History
In 1786, a royal decision was made to establish a postal route between Bergen and Trondheim. From the establishment of mail in Norway in 1647 until then, all mail between those cities went over to Oslo. To begin with, the route was for large parts usable for walking and horse riding only, but in the following decades it was rebuilt to allow horse carriages. Several parts required boat. The route was Bergen–Åsane–Hordvik––Isdal–Hundvin–Gulen–Rutledal––Leirvik –Flekke–Dale–Bygstad–Førde–Jølster–Gloppen-–Faleide –Hornindal–Hellesylt–Stranda––Sjøholt–Vestnes-–Molde–Angvik––Tingvoll––Stangvik–Skei–Rindal–Orkanger–Trondheim. The 1786 decision also included a mail route between Stavanger and Bergen. In 1858, mail was rerouted to newly established steam ships Bergen–Vadheim, and the mail route changed to Vadheim–Sande–Førde, in parts precisely along today's route. Since 1990, a number of long bridges and tunnels have replaced four of the ferries. The bridges and tunnels are:
The route Trondheim – Ålesund – Bergen – Stavanger – Kristiansand was named E39 in 2000. Kristiansund – Stavanger was earlier riksveg 1 from 1992 and riksveg 14 before 1992. Stavanger – Kristiansand was part of E18, and Trondheim – Kristiansund was riksveg 65 and riksveg 71.
Future
A long motorway south of Bergen is under construction and expected to be finished in 2022.
The world's deepest and longest underwater road tunnel, the and Rogfast, was started in 2018 and is expected to be opened in 2025-26.
The entire route Stavanger – Kristiansand is planned to be rebuilt into motorway or semi-motorway.
There are plans to replace every ferry link with a fixed connection, but each presents a costly technical challenge as the fjords are wide and very deep, so the plans are controversial and uncertain.
Norway - Denmark Ferry
International car ferry operated by Color Line: and Fjord Line. ;Kristiansand - Hirtshals 3 hours 15 minutes
Danish part
From Norway E39 goes with ferry from Kristiansand to Hirtshals in north Denmark. Ferries are run by Colorline and Fjordline. In Denmark E39 is a motorwayfrom the south of Hirtshals to the north of Aalborg. The exits are:
