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European route E18

Coordinates: 54°26′50″N 6°23′18″W / 54.447222°N 6.388333°W / 54.447222; -6.388333
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E18 shield
E18
Route information
Length1,890 km (1,170 mi)
Major junctions
West endCraigavon, United Kingdom
Major intersectionsE6 Oslo, Norway
E16 Sandvika, Norway
East endSaint Petersburg, Russia
Location
Countries United Kingdom
 Norway
 Sweden
 Finland
 Russia
Highway system

European route E18 runs from Craigavon in Northern Ireland to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Scotland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 kilometres (1,174 miles) in length.

Although the designation implies the possibility of a through journey, this is no longer practical as there are no direct car ferry crossings between the United Kingdom and Norway.[1]

United Kingdom

The route starts in Northern Ireland and runs from Craigavon (M1) – Belfast (M2, A8) – Larne, then to Scotland: Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway (A75) – Gretna – then England via the (M6) – Carlisle (A69) to Newcastle. As is normal for European routes in the United Kingdom, it is not signposted as such.

Northern Ireland

North Channel

Great Britain

North Sea

There are no ferries from Newcastle to Norway. Freight-only ferries may operate from other United Kingdom ports to Norway or Denmark, but for car journeys the only practical route is a crossing to France, Belgium or the Netherlands, followed by a road journey through Germany and Denmark, and a ferry crossing from there to Norway.[1][2]

Norway

The route continues as a motorway from Kristiansand in Norway. E18 is connected with the E39 Ferry to Denmark. The ferry runs from Kristansand to Hirtshals, takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes, and is operated by Color Line.[3][4]

In Norway, the E18 has a length of 415 kilometres (258 mi), of which 190 kilometres (120 mi) are motorway. It runs Kristiansand – Arendal – Porsgrunn – Larvik – Sandefjord – Tønsberg – Horten – Drammen – Oslo – Ås – Askim – Ørje.

A flyover carrying the E18 Holmestrand bypass, opened in 2001, partially collapsed in February 2015 following a landslip, necessitating its demolition.[5]

Sweden

From Ørje, the E18 crosses the border into Sweden at Töcksfors. It has a length of 510 kilometres (320 mi), of which 245 kilometres (152 mi) are motorway. It runs Töcksfors – Karlstad – Örebro – Västerås – Stockholm / Kapellskär.

Baltic Sea

The connection over the Baltic Sea is from Stockholm or Kapellskär, in Sweden, to Turku or Naantali, in Finland, using by ferries operated by Silja Line, Viking Line or Finnlink. It is also possible to take a direct route to Helsinki. In theory it is also possible to cross the sea via Åland and the Åboland islands by island hopping over bridges, by cable ferries and ferries along the Archipelago Ring Road, but this route is not signposted as being part of the E18.

Finland

See also: Finnish national road 1, Ring III, Finnish national road 7, and Turku Ring Road

In Finland the E18 goes from Åland through southern Finland by way of Turku/Naantali – Salo – Vihti – Espoo – Porvoo – Loviisa – Kotka – Hamina – Vaalimaa till the border with Russia. Crossing the border to Russia used to often require queuing as the volume of traffic using it increased.[6] The situation has since 2009 improved thanks to increased capacity, and a new parking lot constructed by 2016 is expected to solve the problem for good.[7]

Russia

See also: M10 highway (Russia)

In Russia, E18 goes along the M10 highway from Finnish border to Saint Petersburg. The stretch of M10 between Saint Petersburg and the Finnish border will be redesignated to A181 by 2018.[8] The route runs through northwestern Leningrad Oblast and mostly through sparsely populated areas. Since 2003, after opening of Vyborg bypass E18 does not go through Vyborg, though previously it did.[9] Near Saint Petersburg the route runs through suburbs, such as Sestroretsk and Olgino. E18 terminates at the western border of Saint Petersburg.

There are plans to expand the road from one to three lanes in each direction because of the increasing volume of traffic.[10] In 2012 the highway will be connected with the Western Rapid Diameter near Beloostrov by expanded existing junction of M10 with the Zelenogorsk highway. It is likely to be a new terminus of E18.[11]

  • The M1 near Craigavon, Northern Ireland
    The M1 near Craigavon, Northern Ireland
  • The A75 sign near Gretna, Scotland
    The A75 sign near Gretna, Scotland
  • European Route E18 motorway leads over Drammen Bridge, Norway
    European Route E18 motorway leads over Drammen Bridge, Norway
  • The E18 passing through Västerås, Sweden
    The E18 passing through Västerås, Sweden
  • The E18 crossing the Stocksundet between Stockholm and Kapellskär
    The E18 crossing the Stocksundet between Stockholm and Kapellskär
  • The E18 at Kotka, Finland
    The E18 at Kotka, Finland

References

  1. ^ a b "From UK to Norway by car and ferry". The Little Scandinavian. Scandi Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Brevik - Immingham to Brevik". DFDS. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ http://www.eurodrive.co.uk/newcastle_kristiansand.htm
  4. ^ http://www.eurodrive.co.uk/kristiansand_ferry.htm
  5. ^ http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/02/02/bridge-collapses-on-e18-highway/
  6. ^ Queue situation at the Finnish/Russian border Archived 14 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Rekkaparkki, latauspisteitä sähköautoille ja kymmeniä siltoja – E18-tien viimeinen osuus valmistuu vuonna 2018". YLE. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  8. ^ ООО Компания "Кодекс-Люкс": Законодательство, судебная практика, нормы, правила, стандарты России Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Kodeks-luks.ru.
  9. ^ Federal Highway Agency of Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation (in Russian) Archived 24 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Rosavtodor.ru.
  10. ^ (in Russian). Baltinfo.ru (18 August 2011).
  11. ^ (in Russian). Stpr.ru.

Media related to E 18 at Wikimedia Commons

54°26′50″N 6°23′18″W / 54.447222°N 6.388333°W / 54.447222; -6.388333

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