European route E39

European route E39 is the designation of a 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.
Domestic ferries.
The E39 ferries are operated by Fjord1 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 (approximate crossing time in 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–(boat over Salhusfjorden)–Isdal–Hundvin–Gulen–Rutledal–(boat over Sognefjorden)–Leirvik (Hyllestad)–Flekke–Dale–Bygstad–Førde–Jølster–Gloppen-(boat over Nordfjord)–Faleide (Stryn)–Hornindal–Hellesylt–Stranda–(boat along Storfjorden)–Sjøholt–Vestnes-(boat over Romsdalsfjorden)–Molde–Angvik–(boat over Tingvollfjorden)–Tingvoll–(boat over Halsafjord)–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:
Other large road projects include:
The route Trondheim–Ålesund–Bergen–Stavanger–Kristiansand was named E39 in 2000. Kristiansund–Stavanger was earlier riksveg 1 (national highway 1, "coastal through-road") from 1992 and riksveg 14 before 1992. Stavanger–Kristiansand was part of E18, and Trondheim – Kristiansund was riksveg 65 and riksveg 71.
Norway–Denmark ferry.
International car ferry operated by Color Line: and Fjord Line (Seasonal).
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 motorway from the south of Hirtshals to the north of Aalborg.
The exits are: