“The measures taken in the design of the concrete work along the stretch have resulted in climate savings equivalent to 3500 round trips by diesel car between Trondheim and Oslo. These are simple but unconventional measures that have not been costly. They have facilitated more modern and environmentally friendly train journeys, improved comfort for passengers and increased capacity for both passenger and freight traffic. This improves the daily lives of many travelers“, says Husby.
Early on, Norconsult and NRC decided that the project would deliver sustainability outcomes far beyond the requirements set in the request for proposals. They set high ambitions for what they wanted to achieve. It became evident that there was much to gain in the concrete part of the project, particularly in the optimization of concrete foundations.
Norconsult contacted suppliers about the use of low-carbon concrete in the production of foundations for the masts and received confirmation that it would be possible to reduce the amount of concrete per foundation through simple design changes. Changing the foundation design was a key factor in achieving significant savings.
"It was not a given that our proposals would be accepted. It required us to challenge Bane NOR's regulations and for them to accept deviations from their own standards. It was a demanding process, but it is all the more satisfying that we, together, achieved substantial savings. Ambition is one of Norconsult's six leadership principles, and it's great that our high ambitions led to good results"Torgeir Husby,
Project Manager
The strong focus on sustainability also contributed to the project winning the Norconsult Awards 2023 in the "Sustainability" category, competing against nearly 30 000 other Norconsult projects from both domestic and international contexts. Norconsult Awards aim to honor outstanding achievements throughout the past year.
A significant amount of time was invested at the start of the project to get to know each other and discuss how to create a successful project, understand the client's needs, and think holistically. Regular design meetings with NRC to ensure that the proposed solutions were effective and constructible have also been crucial. This has led to a high level of trust.
“The high level of trust between all three parties was built through extensive collaboration. We invested a lot of time at the beginning of the project to get to know each other and discuss how to create a successful project. As consultants, we made a significant effort to understand NRC and Bane NOR's needs and approached the design phase holistically. Regular design meetings with NRC to ensure that the proposed solutions were effective and constructible have been essential“, says Torgeir Husby.
Bane NOR recognized early on that sustainability and sustainable solutions were high on the agenda for the general contractor's organization.
“The collaboration between Bane NOR and the general contractor's organization, including Norconsult, regarding the process of implementing sustainable solutions, has been excellent, and we continuously work to carry out the assignment in a sustainable, efficient, and customer-oriented manner“Ola Grendal,
Project Manager - Bane NOR
Grendal explains that the lessons learned from the project will contribute to Bane NOR's ongoing efforts to improve sustainability in the years to come.