Industrial History: 2013 1380m (4528') Hardangerbrua (Hardanger) Suspension Bridge in Norway

(Satellite, 1,196 photos)

VisitNorway
"The main span is 1380 meters [4528', 0.85 miles], the towers are 202 meters [660'] high, clearance below is 55 meters [180']."

At first I was confused because 1380m was used for both the length of the bridge and of the main span. Then I noticed that both ends go into mountains and the cables are anchored on the mountain. It amazes me how simply tapering the top of the towers makes it look so much more elegant. Yet it did not cost much to do that. I wish American civil engineers would learn that aesthetics need not be expensive.

(Actually, the main span is "only" 1310m. [ntnu])

Axel K, Jul 2018, 4th of 130

rheins, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons via structurae

BridgeInfo
Construction started in 2009 and it officially opened on Aug 17, 2013.

This is another example of other countries putting more value on non-vehicular traffic than does America. About a third of the used space is dedicated to non-vehicular traffic.

Emanpee, Aug 2015, 123 of 130

And they built a special tunnel for pedestrian access.

VisitNorway_on_foot

Highway Engineering Discoveries posted
Norway Sky bridge
Eskil Østbø: This is Hardangerbrua (Hardanger bridge), across a part of the Hardanger fjord.
Highway Engineering Discoveries posted again
Norway Sky bridge Construction
The Marine Buff posted

The construction of the Norway Sky Bridge involves the use of ships to transport and position the massive steel pontoons and other structural components. These ships play a crucial role in delivering the prefabricated sections to the construction site on the fjord. The pontoons are anchored to the fjord bed using mooring systems that are installed and adjusted by specialized vessels. Additionally, crane ships are used to lift and place the heavy steel sections and other materials into position, ensuring precise alignment and secure assembly of the bridge's structure.

[As a comment pointed out, this is not the method that was used for this bridge.]

This method allows for efficient and accurate construction over deep water where traditional methods of building piers are not feasible.

The Marine Buff posted again

The construction of the Hardanger Bridge, Norway’s longest suspension bridge, began in 2009 and was completed in August 2013. The project was overseen by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, with MT Højgaard responsible for steelwork and assembly. The bridge has a total length of 1,380 meters, with a main span of 1,310 meters, making it one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

The structure includes two 200-meter-high concrete towers and two suspension cables, each made up of 10,032 wires with a combined weight of 6,400 tonnes. The steel deck was built using 23 pre-fabricated sections, each weighing 400 tonnes. These sections were assembled on-site and lifted into place using specialized cranes.

In addition to its two traffic lanes, the bridge also accommodates pedestrians and cyclists with a dedicated path, reducing travel time between Oslo and Bergen significantly by replacing a ferry route across Hardangerfjord.

Unseen World posted with a description that is the same as the above post.

[The comments contain more photos and a couple of videos of the bridge.]

Pavel Kleisl commented on Discoveries' second post
First drove across in 2017.

Pavel Kleisl commented on Discoveries' second post
You drive out of a rock face right onto the bridge. It’s pretty impressive, especially the first time when not expecting it at all.
Geir Rune Tveit: Pavel Kleisl That is the world highest tunnel opening.