European route E18 Information & European route E18 Links at HealthHaven.com

European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km (1,174 mi) in length.

[edit] United Kingdom

The route runs Craigavon – Belfast – Larne, then Stranraer – Gretna – Carlisle (A69) to Newcastle. Like all European routes, it is not signposted as such in the United Kingdom.

[edit] Norway and Sweden

The E18 passing through Västerås, Sweden

The route continues as a motorway from Kristiansand in Norway (although there is no direct scheduled ferry connection between Newcastle and Kristiansand).

E18 is connected with the E39 Ferry to Denmark. The ferry runs from Kristansand to Hirtshals. The trip takes about 3 Hours. Reservations can be made at Colorline

In Norway and Sweden the E18 runs Kristiansand – Arendal – Porsgrunn – Larvik – Sandefjord – Tønsberg – Horten – Drammen – Oslo – Ås – Askim – Karlstad (in Sweden) – Örebro – Västerås – Stockholm/Kapellskär. Much of the route through northern Vestfold was disrupted in 2007 due to the collapse of the Hanekleiv tunnel and the need for additional repairs in the other tunnels in that area.

[edit] Finland

The E18 at Kotka, Finland

The connection over the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Turku/Naantali Finland is by cruiseferries operated by Silja Line and Viking Line. 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.

In Finland the E18 goes from Åland through southern Finland by way of Turku/Naantali – Salo – Lohja – Helsinki – Porvoo – Loviisa – Kotka – Hamina – Vaalimaa till the border with Russia. Often at the border with Russia can be some queues, because the border control is poorly equipped for the increasing volume of traffic using it.^[1]

[edit] Russia

See also: Russian route M10

At Russian side E18 goes along the Russian route M10 from Finnish border to Saint Petersburg. It runs through northwestern Leningrad Oblast and mostly through sparsely populated areas. Since 2003, after opening of Vyborg bypass E18 does not go through Vyborg^[2]. Near Saint Petersburg the route runs through suburbs, such as Sestroretsk and Olgino. E18 terminates at the western border of Saint Petersburg.
There are several plans to improve the road for increasing traffic, such as building a toll road near original route.^[3] After 2011 highway will be connected with the Western Rapid Diameter in Beloostrov. It will be a new terminus of E18. ^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Queue situation at the Finnish/Russian border.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: E 18

[0] Queue situation at the Finnish/Russian border

[1] Federal Highway Agency of Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation (in Russian)

[2] Dmitry Kozak: four projects have been chosen, six more is waiting their turn (in Russian)

[3] Projects of Saint Petersburg (in Russian)

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