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Måbødalen - opened new rest area with reused stone

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On Thursday 2 October the Norwegian Public Roads Administration opened a refurbished rest area at Måbø Bridge in Måbødalen along National Road 7.

The bridge and the old road constitute a protected cultural monument (2009) and were taken out of use when the new National Road 7 (Rv 7) route was ready in 1986. Photo: Frid-Jorunn Stabell, Statens vegvesen

Måbø Bridge rest stop is located just below Måbø Bridge, a stone arch bridge from 1910 across the river Bjoreio at the outlet from Lake Måbøvatnet in Måbødalen valley.

The rest area from the 90s has been upgraded with seating benches, planting and universally designed access. The aim of this project is for the place to be experienced as open and friendly, and to make room for a nice break in beautiful surroundings. The architect firm 3RW arkitekter AS is responsible for the design of the project, with Sixten Rahlff as the main architect. In the design of the project, the architect has greatly emphasised the reuse of stone.

Winding rest benches made of slate.
Here it has been carefully cleared, some elements removed and others reused. Photo: Per Finborud, Statens vegvesen

“In this project we have reused stone from this rest area and Dalberget rest area further up in Måbødalen. The stone has been used for dry masonry walls along both sides of the access ramp and around the main rest area. Slate blocks from another Scenic Route project have been cut into oblong pieces and used as fence posts for the railing,” says Per Finborud, Planning and Process Manager at NPRA Norwegian Scenic Routes. Small trees have been taken from the surrounding area and planted among the new slate benches.

Three information boards at the rest area.
From the rest area there is a good view of Måbø bridge. Photo: Roger Thorstad, Statens vegvesen

The construction project was put to tender openly in January 2025 and eventually awarded to Mesta AS. Construction started in April, and the rest area was completed in September 2025. The project is part of the efforts to upgrade Norwegian Scenic Route Hardangervidda to become a unified travel experience with old travel routes, cultural history and architectural Scenic Route projects as important ingredients.

Aerial photo of the rest area in Måbødalen.
The architects have used what was already on the site, a beautiful, round and open area in the middle of Måbødalen. Photo: Harald Christian Eiken, Statens vegvesen

Contracting client: NPRA / Norwegian Scenic Routes
Architect: 3RW arkitekter AS by architect Sixten Rahlff
Contractor: Mesta AS avdeling Førde