The moderate and Member of Parliament Elisabeth Björnsdotter Rahm is positive about a bridge over the Kvarken. But the Social Democrat Helén Pettersson is more skeptical.

- There are other projects that must be prioritized first, she says to SVT.

It was this week that, among others, Vasabladet and SVT reported on an investigation that two Finnish experts produced about a bridge between Umeå and Vaasa. The bridge would cost SEK 30-50 billion.

Has met with resistance

The question of a bridge has been on the agenda before, but according to Elisabeth Björnsdotter Rahm has been met with resistance. Ten years ago, she sat on the Nordic Council, which is a co-operation body between the parliaments of the Nordic countries.

- As I remember it, there was no major party political difference in opinions about the bridge. It was north-to-south politics. They have not wanted to invest in northern Sweden. It was better to invest in high-speed trains in southern Sweden, she says.

She sees nothing negative with a bridge.

- It is clear that it costs money. It must be seen in the long term, as if we get tax revenue when Finns come here and work and tourists. I also assume that there will be a bridge fee. And both the Swedish and Finnish states would finance the bridge, says Elisabeth Björndotter Rahm (M).

Is skeptical

The Social Democrat Helén Pettersson also sits in the Riksdag for Västerbotten. But she's more skeptical of a bridge.

- A really good east-west connection would be a dream. But there are other projects that must be prioritized first, such as getting the Norrbotnia line completed. There are major problems with the infrastructure in the north that need to be addressed, such as renovating the roads, having a double-lane E4. There is a lot that the people of Västerbotten think about on a daily basis more than a bridge over the Kvarken, she says.

SVT has sought the Minister of Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth (S) for a comment, but he declines the interview.