Three bridges risk being demolished after dispute

Three power plants are about to be demolished. And three bridges could suffer the same fate if the municipality and the energy giant can't reach an agreement.

Skellefteå Kraft cannot upgrade three of the power plants in lower Rickleån. Two in the central town and one just below. Therefore, the energy giant wants to demolish all of them.

This is because they do not meet the modern environmental requirements demanded for all power plants.

But problems have arisen, reports VK.

When the power plants are demolished, three bridges and their future are at stake. Robertsfors municipality does not want them to suffer this fate, as they are important for reaching the other side of Rickleån where several industries are housed.

“The proposal on the table is that the municipality should take over the bridge at Bruksforsen from Skellefteå Kraft in acceptable condition. And the power company believes it has the sole right to determine what constitutes acceptable condition,” writes Robertsfors municipality in a press release.

Refuses to pay the bill

At the same time, the municipality does not want to pay for an inspection of the bridge over Bruksforsen, which is the requirement from Skellefteå Kraft. They also do not intend to take over the bridge in uninspected condition.

“We cannot do that, we’re dealing with taxpayer money. Taking over a bridge when we have no idea of its condition could involve high costs,” says municipal councilor in Robertsfors, Petra Andersin (S) to VK.

The costs for the inspection of Sågforsbron have cost around half a million kronor in sampling, so far. There, Skellefteå Kraft has covered half of that sum. The results on what condition the bridge is in have not yet arrived.

“Important infrastructure”

But for Bruksforsbron, the municipality does not intend to contribute any money for the inspection. Instead, they want the state to contribute. This is because large parts of Robertsfors central town are designated as being of national interest by state authorities.

There they now stand, and should the parties not reach an agreement, only what the municipality wants to avoid above all else remains: demolition.

“We don’t want to tear down the bridges. That’s what becomes the ultimate consequence if no one takes over the bridges. But I don’t want to believe that will happen. It’s important infrastructure. I see it as an ongoing negotiation. The final word hasn’t been said,” says Susanne Öhrvall, business unit manager at Skellefteå Kraft, to VK.

Meanwhile, the parties are waiting for the land and environmental court to have their say. They will determine how the demolition of the power plants should proceed and how the watercourse should be restored. Or whether the demolition may be carried out at all.