This article contributes to the research on the expansion of the Swedish post-war road network by illuminating the role of tourism in addition to political and industrial agendas. Specifically, it examines the “conceptual construction” of the Blue Highway, which currently stretches from the Atlantic Coast of Norway, traverses through Sweden and Finland, and enters into Russia. The focus is on Swedish governmental reports and national press between the 1950s and the 1970s. The article identifies three overlapping meanings attached to the Blue Highway: a political agenda of improving the relationships between the Nordic countries, industrial interests, and tourism. Political ambitions of Nordic community building were clearly pronounced at the onset of the project. Industrial actors depended on the road for the building of power plants and dams. The road became gradually more connected with the view of tourism as the motor of regional development.

本文通过阐明旅游业在政治和产业议程之外的作用，为瑞典战后道路网络的扩展做出了贡献。具体来说，它研究了蓝色高速公路的“概念性建筑”，该高速公路目前从挪威大西洋海岸延伸，穿越瑞典和芬兰，然后进入俄罗斯。重点是1950到1970年代之间的瑞典政府报告和国家新闻。本文确定了“蓝色公路”的三个重叠含义：改善北欧国家，工业利益和旅游业之间关系的政治议程。北欧社区建设的政治野心在该项目开始时就已明确表达出来。工业参与者依靠道路来建设发电厂和水坝。