On Tuesday, spectators gathered at Viktoriaslussen in Stockholm to watch the first section of a new cycle and pedestrian bridge being towed into Söderström. The 220-metre-long bridge, built in Poland, has been divided into six sections due to transport constraints. Installation work is now starting and is expected to take six weeks.
The new bridge is designed to connect the Slussen area, providing a dedicated path for cyclists and pedestrians. The six sections arrived at Frihamnen over the weekend and were loaded onto pontoons. The three smaller ones were towed via Saltsjön to Viktoriaslussen, while the three larger sections came through Danvikskanalen and Hammarbyslussen to Söder Mälarstrand.
Spectator Ann-Kristin Jakobsson was positive: "I think it will be great and bring more life to Slussen." Mats Strindevall, block manager at Skanska, explained: "It was simply too narrow to transport a whole bridge into Söderström."
Cranes will now lift the sections into position. Four concrete pillars are ready in the water, with land anchors on each side. The area under Mälarterrassen will be closed to cyclists and pedestrians from April 15 to June 6.