Hålogaland Bridge

The Hålogaland Bridge (Norwegian: Hålogalandsbrua) is a suspension bridge which crosses the Rombaksfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is the second-longest bridge span in Norway. The bridge is part of the European Route E6 highway. It was built to shorten the driving distance from the town of Narvik to the village of Bjerkvik by 17 kilometers (11 mi) and from Narvik to Bjørnfjell, via European Route E10 by 5 kilometers (3.1 mi). The bridge cost 2.2 billion kr. Financing came from a mix of state grants and tolls.[1]

Hålogaland Bridge

Hålogalandsbrua
The Hålogaland Bridge, under construction on April 2018.
Coordinates68.4534°N 17.4823°E / 68.4534; 17.4823
Carries E06
CrossesRombaken fjord
LocaleNarvik, Norway
Named forHålogaland
Websitehaalogalandsbrua.no
Characteristics
DesignSuspension bridge
MaterialReinforced concrete
and Steel
Total length1,533 metres (5,030 ft)
Longest span1,145 metres (3,757 ft)
No. of spans1
No. of lanes2
History
Construction start18 February 2013
Construction end2018
Construction cost2.2 billion kr
Opened9 December 2018
Inaugurated9 December 2018
ReplacesRombak Bridge (E6 Highway rerouted)
Statistics
TollYes

The bridge lies above the Arctic Circle and is the longest suspension bridge within the Arctic Circle at the time of its construction.[2] Construction of the bridge was featured on Season 1 Episode 4 of the Science Channel show Building Giants, titled Arctic Mega Bridge.[2] Another suspension bridge, the Rombak Bridge, is nearby further-east through the fjord.

Construction began on February 18, 2013 and was completed in 2018. The inauguration ceremony was held on December 9, 2018, and the bridge was opened to traffic that same day.

The Hålogaland Bridge under construction, August 2016
Construction of the bridge, June 2015

History

The bridge was originally planned to be either a suspension bridge or a symphony bridge (a combination of a suspension bridge, a cable-stayed bridge and a cantilever bridge) but the latter was dropped in 2008, as it would cost 520 million kr more.[3] The Norwegian Public Roads Administration estimated the cost of a suspension bridge in 2008 to 1,860 million kr.[3] In addition to the bridge, a tunnel between Trældal and Leirvika was planned, at an estimated cost of 85 million kr. The administration also worked on a method which would shorten the main span from 1,345 to 1,120 meters (4,413 to 3,675 ft), by placing pylons in the fjord.[3] The bridge had an inauguration ceremony on 9 December 2018 and was opened for traffic the same day.[4]

Financing

As part of the comprehensive financing of the bridge, Narvik Airport, Framnes would be closed (it closed 1 April 2017, one year before the opening). The bridge shortens travel time to Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes from 60 to 40 minutes, and local politicians have accepted the deal.[5][6][7] The Ofoten Regional Council has estimated savings of 840 million kr over the course of 30 years, should the airport be closed. In October 2009, State Secretary Erik Lahnstein stated that he was not happy with the calculations, as they were based on unrealistic presumptions.[8] In September 2010, Minister of Transport and Communications Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa stated that the state would issue a grant of "several hundred million kroner".[1] On 25 May 2012, Kleppa announced that the government would grant 1.6 billion kr for the bridge, which would supplement 850 million kr in tolls and a minor amount from Narvik Municipality.[9] A toll station with a 43 kr toll was opened in September 2015 along the old road, and a toll station with 113 kr toll was opened on the north access road after the bridge opened.[10]

Construction

The construction start was 18 February 2013 and was built by a Chinese company Sichuan Road and Bridge Group.[11][12] Expected opening was the spring of 2018, although due to various delays, it was finally opened for traffic on 9 December 2018.

In addition to the Hålogaland Bridge, there are a total of 4.9 kilometres (3.0 mi) of new road, two new smaller tunnels and a new 1.1-kilometre (0.68 mi) long avalanche protection tunnel on the old road in Trældal, north of Narvik.

The project comprised:[13]

  • The Hålogaland Bridge, 1,533 metres (5,030 ft)
  • Construction of 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) of road on the Narvik side
  • The Ornes tunnel, 270 metres (890 ft), on the Narvik side
  • Construction of 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) of road at Øyjord
  • The Storlikoll tunnel, 330 metres (1,080 ft), at Øyjord
  • The Trældal tunnel, 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi)
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References
  1. "Klarsignal for Hålogalandsbrua". Fremover (in Norwegian). 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  2. "Building Giants - Arctic Mega Bridge". Science Channel. January 25, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. Norwegian Public Roads Administration (8 January 2008). "Hålogalandsbrua - Kostnader" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  4. Endelig program for åpning
  5. "Strategiplan flyplasser" (PDF) (in Norwegian). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  6. Mauren, Arnfinn (8 March 2010). "Nye veier - færre flyplasser". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  7. Godø, Knut (5 October 2010). "Nedlagt flyplass gir ny Hålogalandsbru" (in Norwegian). Harstad Tidende. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  8. "– Ikke fornøyd med bru-regnestykket" (in Norwegian). 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  9. "Denne brua skal gjøre slutt på trailersjåførernes mareritt" (in Norwegian). 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  10. http://www.haalogalandsbrua.no
  11. "Anleggsstart for Hålogalandsbrua i høst" (in Norwegian). fremover.no. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  12. "chinese get to build new bridge". News in English. 2017-11-07.
  13. https://www.vegvesen.no/Europaveg/e6halogalandsbrua/English
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