REVERSING COURSE, OSLO AUTHORITIES APPROVE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MUNCH MUSEUM

Reversing earlier decisions, Oslo’s new city government has finally greenlit the towering new Munch Museum building that’s being planned for the city’s eastern waterfront, reports Aftenposten. The new building will cost $314 million. Previously, the project had been dogged by rounds of opposition, and city authorities had raised concerns because of a nearby building’s cost overruns and construction problems.

“We’re counting on the museum opening at Bjørvika in 2020 as planned,” city government leader Raymond Johansen said. He added: “We’re managing the taxpayers’ money, and have been clear about the need to go through the costs of all large investment projects.”