Norwegian National Road 7

National Road 7
Norwegian: Riksvei 7 Nynorsk: Riksveg 7
File:Loc Rv7.svg File:Riksveier Buskerud Hordaland.svg
Route information
Length:	387.6 km (240.8 mi)
Major junctions
West end:	Granvin
East end:	Hønefoss
Highway system
National Roads in Norway

Norwegian National Road 7 (Norwegian: Riksvei 7) is a national road in Norway which runs from the town of Hønefoss in Buskerud county to the village of Granvin in Hordaland county. The route is 387.6 kilometres (240.8 mi) long and runs east-west through Buskerud and Hordaland counties over the vast Hardangervidda plateau.

The road begins at the European route E16 highway just south of Heradsbygda in Ringerike municipality and runs through the Sogna river valley to the village of Sokna (this part is called the Soknedalsveien). It then continues further on to Hamremoen and up along the east side of the lake Krøderen to Gulsvik where it crosses the river and then follows the Hallingdalen valley through Flå, Nesbyen, Gol, Torpo, Ål, Hol, and Geilo (this part is called the Hallingdalsveien). From there, the road begins its path across the Hardangervidda plateau via Ustaoset and Haugastøl, passing the Vøringsfossen waterfall while descending down into the Måbødalen valley in Eidfjord. The road follows the Eidfjorden for a ways before crossing the fjord via the Hardanger Bridge (opened in 2013 - there was a ferry here prior to that time). The road continues through the Vallavik Tunnel before reaching its terminus at the village of Granvin. The portion of the road from Haugestøl to Eidfjord (over the Hardangervidda plateau) is designated a National Tourist Route.

Improvements

In June 2014, a 17-kilometre (11 mi) long stretch of new road was opened in Ringerike-Krodsherad. Compared to the old road, it includes some long tunnels, is less curvaceous, and shortens the journey between Sokna to Ørgenvika.

There are also some unofficial proposals to build a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) long tunnel under the Hardangervidda plateau.