Greinin "Independent of Time/Space" er nú at finna í fransk/enska tíðarritinum hjá altjóða vegasambandinum PIARC (World Road Association), Routes/Roads, sum júst er útkomið. Talan er um eitt tíðarrit, sum verður prentað hvønn ársfjórðing í 6.000 eintøkum og sent til yvir 100 limalond.

The wave has reached the Faroe Islands in spite of the remoteness of the 18 small islands in the middle of the North Atlantic with a population of only 47.000.Metaphorically speaking, the world is gradually but surely getting smaller and smaller. However, from another perspective we are provided with greater latitude - a world of options closer to us than ever before. Phenomena like world citizens and global village are frequently used in everyday language to express the wide range of possibilities now open to us. The globalization and information society are paving way for easier and much faster ways of communicating and connecting people and nations. As a result we see a growing demand for independency of time/space both regarding working conditions and living as such. To meet such demands, tools like mobile phones, internet, e-mail, efficient infrastructures etc. have been developed to help us overcome the rapid pace of present–day life. As regards the Faroe Islands, the Managing Director of the Office of Public Works, Mr Oyvindur Brimnes, admits that the “independent of time-space” wave already has and will have an impact on the infrastructure in the Faroes. Question: Are the general demands to the infrastructure in a small mountainous island community like the Faroe Islands any different from that of the mainland?Answer OB: Due to the mountainous nature of the islands and the fact that we are talking about an island community, the demands are somewhat different. Usually you find more bridges, dams, tunnels and sub sea tunnels in such communities and therefore also higher investments. It is about 3-4 times more expensive to build a tunnel than a new road and 2-3 times more expensive to maintain it. So, yes, in many cases it is more complicated to create connections here. We are more dependent on topography. As regards similarities, the growing tendency towards independency of time/space is quite similar to that of the mainland or perhaps even more conspicuous, which is manifested in our current as well as future plans for the infrastructure in the Faroes. Question: Can you highlight some changes of major importance in the infrastructure in the Faroes during the last 50 years and the influence on the society as such?Answer OB: Only a few years back, travelling to the Continent was much faster than travelling between our islands. Before the sub sea tunnel was constructed between Streymoy and Vágoy, which is where the only airport in the Faroes is placed, it took two hours to get from the airport to Tórshavn (only 50 km). It only takes one hour to Aberdeen in Scotland or 1-2 hours to main areas in northern Europe. Travelling in the Faroes has become much easier and faster. Since we got the sub sea tunnel between Streymoy and Vágoy, it only takes half an hour drive to the airport. Question: What are the future plans for the infrastructure in the Faroes? Answer OB: For many years now, it is and has been a political wish to ensure road connection to all villages in the Faroes. In 2003 the vision will be accomplished. Our main future goal is to create even better circumstances for the Faroese people and industry by shortening distances between main areas and creating more fixed links between islands, where it is possible. When the new sub sea tunnel between Borðoy and Eysturoy is completed, 85% of the Faroese population will be connected. Politicians anticipate even higher investments in sub sea tunnels in the near future. Some of these future aspirations are far more ambitious than any other existing projects of this kind worldwide.