Transport cripples Sweden’s historic cable-stayed bridge

Sweden is planning an emergency ferry service after a heavy transport crippled the historic Strömsund Bridge. The vehicle remains stranded on the bridge, preventing inspection of the structure.

A heavy transport carrying a transformer station destined for Mo i Rana in Norway has caused serious damage to the Strömsund Bridge in northern Sweden. The bridge shifted 30 to 40 centimetres vertically and 40 to 50 centimetres laterally on the evening of the incident. It has been closed to all traffic since, ÖP reports.

The bridge, completed in the 1950s, was the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge when it opened. It had recently been renovated to increase its load capacity, with a maximum vehicle weight of 74 tonnes. The heavy transport with escort vehicles proved too much.

“The bridge movement can likely be linked to the heavy weight of the transport, but that is something we are investigating,” says Joakim Kastemyr, regional incident commander at Räddningsregion Mittnorrland, to ÖP.

The vehicle remains abandoned on the bridge, limiting the ability to inspect the structure. Despite the massive displacement, there are no reports of any collapse risk.

Pontoon ferry as stopgap

Sweden’s Transport Administration, Trafikverket, is now planning to deploy a pontoon ferry across the adjacent lake Vattudalen. The ferry would carry pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

“We have examined the conditions on site. The water depth is sufficient and it is possible to build berths for ferry operations,” says Theresa Gellerstedt, regional head of maintenance at Trafikverket.

The authority is working to secure the necessary land and environmental permits. Once approved, transport and assembly of the ferry will begin. In the meantime, reinforcement work has been carried out on the current detour road.

The bridge will remain closed for “a considerable period”, according to Trafikverket.