Protection of inhabited areas, cultural landscapes and prehistoric relics affects more and more the development of the road network. At the same time, the demands to the road corridor become greater regarding traffic safety and environment. This often leads to greater needs for space, as in connection with footpaths and cycle tracks, alignment and visibility conditions. The result often is that the road is pushed out into steep and/or other less road friendly terrain, down or under the surface. While most other development works are of a concentrated and local character, roads on the other hand cut through the country in an increasingly denser pattern. This places the road construction in a stronger public light, with demands to solutions which satisfy new attitudes to highway design. The question is how the roads shall interfere with the various types of landscape our country consists of. Especially in steep terrain and where the ground has poor stability with danger for landslides, different designs and construction methods will possibly lead to great variations in the interference. The article aims to indicate how knowledge on natural Norwegian types of landscape and new techniques for road construction can be turned to account for reducing interference and marking of the landscape.
Abstract