Sørensen addresses construction delays at new OUH hospital amid Itinera bid refusal in Norway

Carsten Sørensen, a member of the Danish People’s Party and politician in the Southern Denmark Region, is deeply engaged in addressing delays and issues related to the construction of the new OUH hospital in Odense. A recent development from Norway has captured his attention: the Norwegian road authority, Statens Vegvesen, has refused to allow the Italian company Itinera to bid on a billion-kroner project, citing Itinera’s problematic track record at both the new OUH and the Storstrøm Bridge, where many foreign workers were reportedly underpaid by the company’s subcontractors.

In early September, an open house event took place at the new OUH, which is currently under construction by Regional Southern Denmark. The region is negotiating with the Italian general contractor regarding conditions for yet another delay. Kjell Inge Davik, the construction director at Statens Vegvesen, highlighted their commitment to ensuring that workers on their projects have appropriate wage and working conditions that comply with Norwegian labor laws.

Itinera is one of two companies working on the new OUH and is facing daily fines of three million kroner for failing to meet contractual obligations. Sørensen expressed frustration over recurring underpayment issues but acknowledged the region’s efforts to manage these situations. He also emphasized the challenges posed by EU regulations that compel them to select the lowest bid, but welcomed Norway’s initiative to implement stricter screening.

Itinera is contesting the decision in court, with hearings scheduled to begin in Oslo. Norwegian laws allow for the rejection of bids if a supplier has a history of serious breaches of environmental, labor, or social regulations, which is the basis for the authorities’ refusal to engage Itinera. The project involves a 21.5-kilometer stretch of the E6 highway in northern Norway, with contracts anticipated to be finalized by early 2025.