The route, known as Sykkelstamvegen, was officially opened by Norway’s Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård, who cut the ribbon alongside Stavanger Mayor Tormod W. Losnedal, Sandnes Mayor Kenny Rettore, and Kjartan Johan Hove, Western Regional Director for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Designed as a dedicated “motorway for cyclists,” the route provides a continuous, high-capacity corridor completely separated from both motor vehicle traffic and pedestrians. Running parallel to the E39 highway, the facility is intended to make cycling faster, safer, and more predictable for commuters travelling through the growing Nord-Jæren region of southwestern Norway.
Unlike many cycling routes that mix users, Sykkelstamvegen is reserved exclusively for bicycles. Pedestrians are directed to separate facilities and signs prohibit walking along the route. The highway features grade-separated crossings, meaning cyclists never have to cross traffic at street level. With a paved width of 4.5 metres and curves and grades specifically designed for bicycle travel, the route is engineered to maintain smooth traffic flow and efficient travel speeds.
The project is considered a pilot initiative in Norway and represents one of the country’s most ambitious investments in cycling infrastructure.
The opening completes a multi-year construction effort that has gradually delivered sections of the route since 2020.
The first segment, measuring just over four kilometres, opened between Asser Jåttens vei and the Sandnes municipal boundary in 2020. A further 1.7-kilometre section between Sørmarka and Asser Jåttens vei followed in 2023. In May 2024, another 4.2-kilometre segment opened between the Sandnes boundary and Oalsgata. The final 2.7-kilometre section between Schanceholen and Sørmarka was opened this week, completing the full corridor.
Project manager Kari Smådal Turøy cycles together with the mayors of Stavanger and Sandnes on the newly completed Cycling Highway (Sykkelstamvegen)
With all segments now connected, cyclists can travel the entire distance between Stavanger and Sandnes on a continuous, purpose-built route.
The cycling superhighway forms part of a broader strategy to create a more sustainable transportation system in a region experiencing significant population growth and increasing traffic congestion.
Officials hope the route will encourage more residents to leave their cars at home, helping reduce pressure on the road network while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is an important boost for cycling in Nord-Jæren. We have gained a comprehensive and efficient connection that makes it safe to cycle quickly,” said Kari Smådal Turøy, project manager for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Speaking at the opening, Transport Minister Nygård also encouraged businesses in the Forus employment district to support cycling commuters by providing quality change-room facilities and secure bicycle parking. He suggested employers could even offer small incentives to workers who choose to cycle to work.
While the route will undoubtedly appeal to recreational riders, its primary purpose is transportation.
The cycling highway has been designed to accommodate high traffic volumes and year-round commuting. Lighting, route geometry, and intersection design were all developed with safety and efficiency in mind.
According to project manager Kari Smådal Turøy, creating a seamless experience was one of the project’s central goals.
“We have had the goal of building a cycle road with a uniform standard that makes it safe, fast and attractive to cycle over longer distances. Think that you can now cycle safely from Sandnes to Stavanger in about 30 minutes all year round, it is truly a gift package that many envy us for,” said Turøy.