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| Gothenburg as the new nordic hub?  The city of Gothenburg is developing fast. The region is growing as never before, with more people choosing to live and work in the city. Major rail projects are underway – something that could turn the city into the future natural Nordic focal point.The constant emergence of new neighbourhoods in the city of Gothenburg creates capacity problems on the railways and a great need for city and transport planning. Now new major rail projects are underway. They will bind the growing region together and help create a liveable city with smart transportation. Niclas Sundgren, Director for Civil & Structural Engineering at Ramboll Sweden, sees the development as very positive, as this means that Gothenburg and the surrounding area face a number of major construction and urban development projects in the near future: "The Western link will be ready in 10-15 years. And with that, Gothenburg will develop into a true big city. We'll see a city that is stronger, more attractive, as well as an easier place to visit, move to, and commute in, " he says. As one of Sweden's largest and most complex rail projects, The West Link (Vestlänken) meets the demand of effective public transportation and provides the city of Gothenburg with a safer, more flexible and more reliable rail system. It comprises an eight kilometre double track railway, of which six kilometres are a railway tunnel underneath the centre of Gothenburg. This increases capacity, reduces travel time, and improves access to the city centre. In addition to the tunnel, there will be three new underground train stations; one below the city's Central Station, one at Haga and another one at Korsvägen. From Oslo to Copenhagen in 2½ hours Another major rail project – a planned high-speed rail link from Oslo via Gothenburg to Copenhagen – will also have a great impact on the region, if it goes ahead. For example, you will be able to travel from Oslo in the north, to Copenhagen in the south, in just 2 ½ hours. This means that Gothenburg, which lies between the two capitals and perhaps Sweden's fastest growing city, will further distinguish itself as a city for hosting events, according to Niclas Sundgren. Gothenburg's strategic location will therefore be a natural hub for meetings and conferences: "They are currently adding the final touches to the world's largest, fully integrated conference hotel and fair centre, the Gothia Towers, where we are responsible for project management. And this is just the beginning, as these buildings will in the future be joined by more high-rise structures – something that will significantly change the skyline of Gothenburg, " says Niclas Sundgren. Another planned project is a 201 meter tall building at Karlavagnsplatsen in the city centre. "Gothenburg is ready. 'The Turning Torso' changed the image of Malmo, and we'll see the same thing happen in Gothenburg, together with the new developments in research and healthcare. And Gothenburg will continue to be the great port city it has always been, " says Niclas Sundgren. Attractive city for work Niclas Sundgren emphasises that in the future more people will choose to commute to Gothenburg from cities such as Boras, Halmstad and other surrounding areas. This, together with more employment opportunities, will result in greater demand for residential and commercial buildings: "We see a constant emergence of new neighbourhoods in the city. The rail yard, Ringon, and the harbour areas are just some of districts that will be expanding in the future. And nowadays, the building process is faster than before. This means that we, in a short time, can further develop the city of Gothenburg, and ensure that it retains its place as one of the most important and influential cities in the Nordic region, " he says. write your comments about the article :: © 2014 Construction News :: home page |