The Norwegian Public Roads Administration will close rv. 52 on Hemsedalsfjellet at Storeskar from Wednesday 21 October to 17 December 2026, six days a week, for blasting. At most the pass will be closed 13.5 hours a day. The 16 October official notice and NRK agree on the hours: 09:00–11:00, 14:30–16:00 and 20:00–06:00. The road stays open from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning. The nights into Sunday and Monday remain open.

There is no local diversion. The recommended routes are rv. 7 over Hardangervidda or E16 over Filefjell. Drivers from the east must choose at Hønefoss or by Gol at the latest; from the west, at Voss or Borlaug. Cabin owners on the mountain coming from the east must either pass before 20:00 or divert via E16 and Borlaug.

Work is under way at two bottlenecks between Tuv and the mountain, on the eastern side. At Storeskar, rv. 52 runs through a tight S-bend above the Mørkedøla, with steep rock faces. Contractor Isachsen Anlegg AS has been on site since the summer. The road closes during blasting and clear-up, for workers and traffic.

Project manager Pål-Steinar Karlsen apologised, especially to heavy goods traffic, and said the weeks after the autumn holiday and before the ski season usually see less traffic. Emergency services and Vy Buss can pass if needed. The agency says a safer rv. 52 is due next year.

From 16 November the Lærdal tunnel on E16 closes from 18:00 to 06:00 six days a week for about two years, except the night into Sunday. When both routes are shut in the evening, a Filefjell diversion towards Bergen/Voss may add two Sognefjord ferries.

The closure is planned, not an accident. Weekend traffic remains open from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning. This article does not replace the live map on vegvesen.no/trafikk or the “vegvesen trafikk” app.

Image: Erik den yngre, rv. 52 Hemsedalsfjellet, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; archive mountain road, not a photograph of the October 2026 works.

Sources consulted: Stenger hovedveien mellom Øst- og Vestlandet 13,5 timer i døgnet — NRK; Kjøre øst-vest? Rv. 52 Hemsedalsfjellet stenger 13,5 timer i døgnet — Statens vegvesen.