Hardanger Bridge

The Hardanger Bridge (Norwegian: Hardangerbrua) is a suspension bridge across the Eidfjorden branch off of the main Hardangerfjorden in Vestland county, Norway. The bridge connects the municipalities of Ullensvang and Ulvik. It replaced a ferry connection between Bruravik and Brimnes, and thereby shortens the driving time between Oslo and Bergen. It is the longest suspension bridge in Norway.[3]

Hardanger Bridge Hardangerbrua
View of the bridge seen from the east
Coordinates	60°28′46″N 6°49′53″E
Carries	Rv7 Rv13
Crosses	Hardangerfjorden
Locale	Ullensvang and Ulvik, Vestland, Norway
Maintained by	Norwegian Public Roads Administration[1]
Characteristics
Design	Suspension bridge
Total length	1,380 metres (4,530 ft)[2]
Width	20 metres (66 ft)[2]
Height	200 metres (660 ft)[2]
Longest span	1,310 metres (4,300 ft)[2]
Clearance below	55 metres (180 ft)[2]
History
Constructed by	MT Højgaard[2]
Construction start	February 2009
Construction end	August 2013
Statistics
Toll	Yes

Construction

The bridge was approved for building by the Norwegian Parliament on February 28, 2006, and construction began on February 26, 2009.[1] While the bridge was engineered by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the construction was done by MT Højgaard.[2] The project had a budget of 2.3 billion kr (€290 million) and more than half of this will be paid by toll and saved ferry subsidies.[4] The Administration is considering a different route over a future bridge as the main connection between East and West.[5]

The Hardanger Bridge

The bridge is 1,380 metres (4,530 ft)[2] long, with a main span of 1,310 metres (4,300 ft). The maximum deck height is 55 metres (180 ft) and the towers reach 200 metres (660 ft) above sea level. There are two driving lanes for cars with an 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) speed limit, and a separate lane for pedestrians and cyclists.[6] The deck height means that the largest cruise ships cannot reach the inner Hardangerfjord any more.

The traffic predicted for the bridge was estimated to be 2000 vehicles per day.[6] The opening of the bridge took place on 17 August 2013.

The main span is one of the longest suspension bridge spans in the world.[7] It is also the longest tunnel to tunnel suspension bridge in the world. On the south end of the bridge, cars immediately enter the 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) Bu Tunnel that goes under the village of Bu, while on the north side of the bridge, cars immediately enter the 7.5-kilometre (4.7 mi) Vallavik Tunnel which includes a 500-metre (1,600 ft) long segment to a roundabout inside the tunnel. At the roundabout, cars can take another 500-metre (1,600 ft) long tunnel that leads to Ulvik or they can take a 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) long tunnel to Granvin.

Media gallery

• 
  The bridge under construction, July 2010
• 
  Tower Cable Saddles for the Hardanger Bridge
• 
  The bridge towers under construction
• 
  Construction of the bridge
• 
  View while crossing
• 
  View looking up while crossing
• 
  View from a passing boat

See also

• List of longest suspension bridge spans

References

1. "The Hardanger Bridge". Statens vegvesen. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
2. Hardanger Bridge at Structurae. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
3. Merzagora, Eugenio A. (ed.). "Road Viaducts & Bridges in Norway (> 500 m)". Norske bruer og viadukter. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
4. "Finance". Statens vegvesen. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
5. Nikolaisen, Per-Ivar . "Hardangerbrua åpnet for 18 måneder siden. Nå vil Vegvesenet bygge ny" Teknisk Ukeblad, 22 January 2015. Accessed: 22 January 2015.
6. "Technical facts". Statens vegvesen. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
7. Hardanger Bridge – Information. Statens vegvesen. 2011. p. 7.

External links

• Official home page
• Technical specifications brochure (PDF)
• Hardangerbrua nytt reisemål [The Hardanger Bridge, new travel destination]