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, which was built in 1844. In 1945 Tronåsen was replaced as the main road between Agder and Rogaland – i.e., between the east and the west.
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 relaxed down the hill, both passengers and drivers sat quietly in their vehicles. Sometimes they trembled as they checked out the steep landscape. A recurring question was whether the brakes would last. Some motorists tied a treetop to the car to slow it down, as they were driving down the hill. Older cars used to be heavy and have small engines.
Consequently, many drivers had to back up the slopes, because they had lower gears in reverse. The engine often ran hot, and it was not uncommon for passengers to have to help push the cars. The buses also had problems with the sharp turns. When they did not make the turn, but had to reverse, stones were placed behind the wheels to secure the bus. An adventurous ride for everyone!