Storstrom Bridge

Storstrøm Bridge will link Zealand and the island of Falster via Masnedø. Credit: Vejdirektoratet.

The new bridge will be a cable-stay bridge. Credit: Vejdirektoratet.

The new Storstrøm bridge will include a central pylon between the two navigation spans. Credit: Vejdirektoratet.

The bridge will include a two-way road, dual-track train, and bicycle paths. Credit: Vejdirektoratet.

The 3.84km Storstrøm Bridge is planned to connect Zealand and the island Falster via Masnedø. It is expected to become the third-largest bridge in Denmark after the Storebælt and Øresund bridges upon the completion of construction in 2022.

The bridge will provide easy access to the rest of Scandinavia in the north, as well as to the south through the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel.

The Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet), a part of the Danish Ministry of Transport, is responsible for the construction of the bridge. The kr4.2bn ($625.7m) project is expected to generate 1,950 jobs during the construction phase.

The new bridge is expected to be used by more than 8,000 vehicles a day by 2025.

Storstrøm Bridge project details

The existing Storstrøm bridge, which was constructed in 1937, is in a poor state without the feasibility for repair. The single-track rail line of the bridge is adequate to meet the demand for the passenger as well as freight transport.

A preliminary study was initiated by the Danish Parliament to find an alternative for the bridge in 2011 and the same was completed in 2012. It recommended the construction of a new double-track rail cum road bridge and demolition of the existing bridge. The objective of the decision to construct a new combined road and double-track railway bridge across Storstrømmen was taken in March 2013.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project was completed in 2014. The parliament gave approval for the construction of the bridge in July 2016. Construction of the bridge is expected to begin in early-2018. The existing bridge will be dismantled once the new bridge is ready for use in 2022.

New Storstrom bridge design and features

The new cable-stay bridge will carry a two-lane highway allowing for a maximum speed of 80km/h, and a double-track electric railway with the capacity for speeds of up to 200km/h. It will include a two-way bicycle or foot track.

The bridge will have a length of 3,840m between the abutments. It will have a width of 12.1m for the railway and emergency paths, 3.5m each for two traffic lanes, and 2.5m for the two-way bicycle track, and 0.3m for the addition of two railings.

The bridge will have a navigational clearance height of 26m and two navigational spans of 160m each. It will include a central pylon or bridge pier between the two navigation spans. The bridge girder is supported on two bearings on top of each bridge pier. The bridge piers will have a thickness of 500mm.

Contractors involved with Storstrom bridge

COWI was appointed as the main consultant to provide designs for the bridge project in September 2016. Dissing + Weitling and Hasløv & Kjærsgaard were selected as sub-consultants for the project.

The Danish Road Directorate shortlisted five consortia for the bridge construction in 2015. The consortia included a joint venture (JV) of Vinci Construction Grand Projects, Hochtief Infrastructure and MT Højgaard, the Strostrømsbroen Contractors consortium consisting of Per Aarsleff, Ed. Züblin, Underrådgiver Rambøll and Underentreprenør Strabag, Rizzani de Eccher, Besix Acciona Infraestucturas, the JV of Obrascon Huarte Lain – SK Engineering & Construction Company, and the JV of Itinera – Condotte – Grandi Lavori Fincosit and Underrådgiver Seteco Ingegneria.

Financing

The Storstrøm bridge project received kr112m ($19.2m) in EU funding under the TEN-T multi-annual call 2013, which were intended to finance European transport infrastructure projects.