Kreate to begin tunnel construction in Norway – contract signed for the Gullberg tunnel interior lining project

Kreate Sverige AB has signed a contract with Skanska Norge AS for the interior lining work on the Gullberg Tunnel in the Lofoten Islands, which is part of the large-scale OPS E10 Hålogalandsvegen project. The contract is worth 38 million Norwegian kroner, or 3.5 million euros, and includes an option worth 2.7 million euros. The contract win serves as a strategic entry into the Norwegian market and offers an opportunity to scale our competitiveness in a comparable market.

Kreate Sverige has signed a contract with Skanska Norge AS for the interior lining of the Gullberg Tunnel and the optional Hårberg Tunnel, both part of the OPS E10 Hålogalandsvegen project. The total value of the contract, including options, is 68 million Norwegian kroner, or approximately 6.2 million euros. Kreate will record the order in its first-quarter order book.

Hålogalandsvegen is the largest road project ever undertaken in Northern Norway, and it is being built entirely along a new route. The project, carried out by Skanska Norway, includes approximately 82 kilometers of new highway, 22 bridges, and seven tunnels with a total length of 27 kilometers. The new road will connect the regions of Ofoten, Lofoten, Vesterålen, and South Troms more closely, which will speed up travel, improve traffic safety, and reduce emissions.

Kreate is expanding in the tunnel lining market – strong expertise is spreading from Sweden to Norway

Kreate has been systematically implementing its growth strategy in Sweden. Winning the contract for the interior lining of the tunnels in the Hålogalandsvegen project—which aims to improve transport links and boost the vitality of Northern Norway—is a significant step for the company.

“We have grown to become Sweden’s largest provider of tunnel lining solutions. When the opportunity arose to continue the company’s impressive growth in Norway, we didn’t hesitate to expand into another Nordic country with the same expertise,” says Kenneth Wahlqvist, CEO of Kreate Sverige.

Several large-scale tunnel projects are currently underway or in the planning stages in Norway.

“The volume of tunnel construction in Norway is 5 to 10 times that of Sweden, so there’s plenty of work to keep us busy well into the future,” Wahlqvist assures us.

The possibility of establishing a permanent presence in Norway is being explored

The agreement signed by Kreate Sweden is a natural next step in Kreate’s expansion in Sweden.

“We’re starting operations at the Kreate Sverige branch, but we’re exploring the possibility of establishing a subsidiary in Norway,” says Timo Vikström, CEO of Kreate Group.

It serves as a strategic move and a market opener, while supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy.

“Norway is not an easy market, but with the right portfolio of expertise and careful project selection, it is a suitable place to scale our competitiveness in a comparable market. We strongly believe in the Kreate concept and our strong technical expertise. We’ve done well against both the Swedes and the Norwegians in Sweden, so why wouldn’t we do well in Norway too?” says Vikström.

Work will begin in the spring of 2026

The scope of the tunnel construction project awarded to Kreate includes, among other things, the drilling and installation of bolts, the installation of drainage mats near the tunnel portals, the installation of a waterproof membrane, and the reinforcement of the structures. Kreate is installing a total of 90,000 square meters of interior cladding in these projects. Skanska Norway is responsible for the shotcrete work.

Work will begin after Easter 2026, and both projects will be completed in late fall 2026.