Bybrua Honoured in London

Buskerud news from the past 48 hours: Drammen’s Bybrua was honoured in London, young Tius signed with Universal Music, and Modum’s rådhus remains in exile following the discovery of asbestos. An Oscar winner has also invested several million kroner in a Drammen company, according to Drammens Tidende.

News update from Buskerud: Drammen’s Bybrua wins award in London

Drammen’s Bybrua has won a new international distinction. The structure was honoured at the Structural Awards, presented in London by the Institution of Structural Engineers, founded in 1908 (NRK Buskerud). The jury praised a work that “combines architectural design and construction engineering” and creates “an important link for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a new public space in Drammen” (NRK Buskerud).

Drammen’s mayor, Kjell Arne Hermansen, said he was proud of the recognition. “We already knew during construction that the bridge would be beautiful. Today, we can say that we have the world’s most beautiful bridge,” he said with a smile (NRK Buskerud). The Bybrua now ranks among the Structural Awards winners, alongside the Sydney Opera House, NRK Buskerud reports.

The award comes after the cost of the structure had already prompted reactions. NRK Buskerud points out that, despite criticism of the expense, the Bybrua continues to collect awards. For Drammen, the recognition applies both to the architecture and to the infrastructure’s everyday use.

Tius, 11, signs a contract with Universal Music

Drammen’s Tius, 11, has signed a recording contract with Universal Music, NRK Buskerud reports, citing Drammens Tidende. The child had attracted attention during the summer by singing with singer Katy Perry at the opening ceremony of a World Cup match between the United States and Paraguay. He was then 10 years old and performed the song “Wonder” in front of 70,000 spectators and millions of television viewers (NRK Buskerud).

His father, Kent Sundberg, known for the band Donkeyboy, says songs will be released regularly next year. “The songs have to come out, and we have to go for it. We have to take a little gamble, and then we’ll see how it goes,” he said (NRK Buskerud). After the performance, Tius told NRK that he had been “not very nervous, but excited” (NRK Buskerud).

Among the week’s Buskerud news, the contract represents a notable cultural achievement for Drammen and the county of Buskerud. This is not merely a one-off appearance: according to the father’s remarks reported by NRK Buskerud, Universal Music plans to release songs regularly.

In Modum, the town hall remains in exile after asbestos evacuation

In Modum, the town hall is still closed following the discovery of asbestos in April. The alarm led to the evacuation of 100 employees, who have since only had access to the building to retrieve papers and necessary equipment (NRK Buskerud). Municipal services are now working from temporary sites scattered throughout the municipality.

The local library is among the temporary offices of the municipal administration. The mayor’s office is located in a corner at the back of the library, according to NRK Buskerud. “For all of us who were in the town hall, it is not easy to quickly arrange a meeting or pop in to see someone to clarify a point. It takes a little more effort,” explains Mayor Sunni Grøndahl Aamodt (Sp) (NRK Buskerud).

Linn Thon, the head of human resources for the Municipality of Modum, describes unpleasant facilities, including double toilets and poor lighting and ventilation. “It is not very pleasant,” she says (NRK Buskerud). Employees are spread throughout the municipality, making communication and meetings more difficult.

Local economy: an Oscar winner invests in Drammen

An Oscar winner invested several million kroner in a company in Drammen, according to Drammens Tidende on the evening of 11 November. The newspaper states that the deal « means an enormous amount » to the company involved. Details of the investment and the identity of the investor were not specified in the headline consulted.

This announcement comes in addition to the positive economic signals noted in Buskerud county over the past 2 days. Drammens Tidende also mentions a popular Drammen cafeteria, previously closed, which now serves meals for less than 100 kroner. The manager says she is « simply happy » about the new offer (Drammens Tidende).

📌 Local News in Brief

In Drammen, police are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday in a closed psychiatric ward at Drammen Hospital. A man in his forties was heard on Tuesday; he admits to the events but not to being guilty, citing his mental state, according to his lawyer Andrea Wisløff (NRK Buskerud). Police are seeking to determine whether the hospital committed an offence; Vestre Viken helseforetak says it wants to cooperate (NRK Buskerud).

Drammens Tidende advises motorists to allow extra time before Thursday morning’s rush hour, in an article published at 5 am (Drammens Tidende). The newspaper also reports that a Drammen cafeteria now charges less than 100 kroner (Drammens Tidende).

Sources: NRK Buskerud, Drammens Tidende — Period: 11 November 2026 and 12 November 2026