The Oresund Bridge – Malmo, Sweden

The Oresund Bridge - Malmo, Sweden

In Sweden and Denmark the bridge is most often referred to as Öresundsbron and Øresundsbroen, respectively. The bridge company itself insists on Øresundsbron, a compromise between the two languages. This symbolises a common cultural identity for the region, the people becoming “Öresund citizens” once the bridge is established. Since the crossing actually comprises a bridge, an island, and a tunnel, it is sometimes called, more accurately, the “Öresund Link” or “Öresund Connection” (Danish: Øresundsforbindelsen, Swedish: Öresundsförbindelsen). The Sound Bridge is occasionally heard, using the traditional English name for the strait. Wags have also called it “the bridge to nowhere” because, viewed from the air, the huge construction appears as though it only connects the mainland of Sweden to a tiny island on the Danish side of the Oresund Strait.

Construction of the crossing began in 1995. It was finished on 14 August 1999. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met midway on the bridge to celebrate the completion. The official inauguration took place on 1 July 2000, with Queen Margrethe II, and King Carl XVI Gustaf as guests of honour. The crossing was opened for public traffic later that day. On 12 June 2000, before the inauguration, 79,871 runners competed in a half marathon (Broloppet, the Bridge Run) from Amager (Denmark) to Skåne (Sweden). In spite of two major disasters – 16 unexploded World War II bombs on the sea bed and a skewed tunnel segment – the crossing was finished 3 months ahead of schedule.

Initially, the crossing was not used as much as expected, probably because of the high cost. However, 2005 and 2006 saw a rapid increase in traffic. This may have been due to Danes buying homes in Sweden – to take advantage of lower house prices in Malmö – and commuting to work in Denmark. In 2008, to cross by car cost DKK 260, SEK 325 and € 36.30, although discounts up to 75% are available for regular users. In 2007, almost 25 million people traveled over the bridge: 15.2 million by car and bus, and 9.6 million by train.

At 7,845 m (25,738 ft), the bridge covers half the distance between Sweden and the Danish island of Amager, the border between the two countries being 5.3 km (3.3 mi) from the Swedish end. The structure has a mass of 82,000 tonnes and supports two railway tracks beneath four road lanes in a horizontal girder extending along the entire length of the bridge. On both approaches to the 3 cable-stayed sections, the girder is supported every 140 m (459 ft) by concrete piers. The 2 pairs of free-standing cable supporting towers are 204 m (669 ft) high allowing shipping 57 m (187 ft) of head room under the main span. Even so, most vessels prefer to pass through the unobstructed Drogden Strait above the Drogden Tunnel. The 490 m (1,608 ft) cable-stayed main span is the longest of the type in the world. A girder and cable-stayed design was chosen to provide the rigidity necessary to carry heavy railway traffic. The architect is Georg Rotne, and the structural design is by Arup.

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