Moi
The road over Tronåsen, on the border between Rogaland and Vest-Agder, was built as part of the old western road. Tronåsveien, coming from the east, begins at Bakke Bridge, Norway’s oldest suspension bridge.
It was completed in 1844 and was the most difficult stretch of the road. The road over Tronåsen was built for horse transport, but even with a light carriage or cart, it was heavy for the horse.
Bridges along the road
Along this former main road, several elegant bridges have been built. The most common were stone arch bridges, of which there are several, close to Tronåsen. There are two in Tronevik and one at Sira. These bridges were used in Norway as early as the 17th century, and they have an excellent load-bearing capacity, even with heavy car traffic—the bridges in the area date from around 1840. East of Tronåsen, you will also find a very statuesque suspension bridge, Bakke Bridge, built in 1844.
Tronåsen today
Tronåsen is a one-way road from Tronevik (Rogaland) for cars and minibuses. It has a picnic area with useful information boards. Furthermore, there is a picnic area at the top of Tronåsen, where you can enjoy the gorgeous view over the lake Lundevannet. From Sira, you can drive to Tronåsen before the road becomes a one-way road. From there, it is possible to walk to the top. The road over Tronåsen is open from the 1st of May to the 1st of September.
Tronåsen - The dread of all motorists?
Tronåsen was, in its time, the dread of all motorists. When the T-Fords and buses crawled up the bends, and even more so, when they went downhill, both passengers and drivers sat quietly in their vehicles. Occasionally, trembling while looking out onto the steep landscape. A recurring question was whether the brakes would hold. Some motorists tied a treetop to the car to slow it down when driving down the hill. Older cars used to be heavy with small engines. Consequently, many drivers drove up the slopes in reverse because they had lower gears in reverse. The engine often overheated, and it was not uncommon for passengers to have to get out and push the car. The buses also had trouble with the sharp bends. When they couldn’t make a turn and had to reverse, stones were placed behind the wheels to secure the bus. An adventurous ride for everyone!
Source: Region Stavanger