The Hangar Bridge successfully installed

The fully assembled structure was lifted into position in a single, coordinated crane operation executed by Nordic Crane.

The Hangar Bridge being installed

“We are proud to have reached this significant milestone in the project. The successful installation of the bridge is the result of meticulous planning and precise execution”, says Torstein Ryeng of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA). Ryeng serves as Project Manager for the project Gildheim–Pirbrua, part of Trondheim’s main cycling route network.

“All the critical elements aligned perfectly, and we completed the operation within the designated time window during Bane NOR’s scheduled railway closure in mid-June. A significant number of skilled engineers have contributed tirelessly, and they deserve great recognition”, Ryeng adds.

Precision engineering under a tight schedule

The Hangar Bridge is a pedestrian and cycle bridge designed to span the railway at Leangen Station. It is a network arch bridge constructed entirely from aluminium, with a bridge deck composed of 100% recycled aluminium sourced from the decommissioned “Gyda” oil platform.

The NRPA has selected Leirvik AS as the main contractor on this project, and construction started in May 2024. The bridge was test-assembled at Leirvik AS’s facility in Stord (Western Norway) in December 2024, and the four main bridge segments were shipped to Trondheim in March 2025.Since then, Leirvik AS has been working on welding the segments together and installing suspension rods, railings, and safety nets on-site at Leangen.

Leirvik AS is the supplier of large aluminium structures, and with the Hangar Bridge project the company is now expanding from projects in the oil and gas sector to also include bridge construction.

“The Hangar Bridge is a landmark project for us. While we have extensive experience with aluminium structures, this is our first aluminium bridge in 30 years – which makes it a timely and important endeavor,” says Geir Mosaker, Project Manager at Leirvik AS.

“The opportunity to test recycled aluminium in a bridge structure represents an important milestone. The Hangar Bridge will help advance the development of competitive, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for environmentally friendly aluminium bridges”, he continues. 

Leirvik AS is also exploring the feasibility of constructing aluminium bridges of varying types and spans.

“The insights gained from this project will be instrumental in our continued efforts to develop longer-span aluminium bridges for future projects”, Mosaker affirms.

Groundworks – a project within the project

In parallel with the bridge construction, extensive  groundworks were carried out by contractor Winsnes AS. These included the construction of abutments and retaining walls, installation of water and sewage systems, street lighting, rerouting of high-voltage cables, and the development of adjacent pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure with a width of 7.5 metres. The northern abutment stands 8 metres tall, while the southern abutment measures 4.5 metres.
The bridge was lifted into place using a 650-tonne crawler crane with a 72-metre-long oom, transported in 21 truckloads and assembled on-site at Leangen Station.

The installation process – from lift to opening

1. Preliminary test lift to ensure balance (using four lifting lugs)
2. Lifting and positioning the bridge
3.  Precise positioning on jacking points
4. Crane disassembly
5. Installation and casting of bearings
6. Installation of expansion joints
7. Removal of lifting lugs
8. Completion of retaining walls and approach roads
9. Asphalt paving of the bridge and adjacent paths
10. Installation of snowplough rails 
11. Integration of lighting into rails

A technological “gift” to the city of Trondheim

The Hangar Bridge is a research and development initiative under the FjordX programme, led by the NPRA. The programme aims to generate new knowledge and technologies for the construction of cost-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and safe infrastructure.

The bridge has already served as a research object for master’s and doctoral students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and it will continue to be studied for years to come. Thus, the bridge is a “gift” that will keep giving, far beyond the benefit it will bring to pedestrians and cyclists in terms of a safe and environmentally friendly transport alternative towards the inner city.

Equipped with numerous sensors to monitor structural behaviour, the bridge will generate valuable data to enhance understanding of aluminium as a structural material. These insights may contribute to the development of design standards for future aluminium bridges. Currently, Norway and Canada are global frontrunners in the use of aluminium in bridge construction. With the bridge now in place, final works such as paving are underway in preparation for its official opening.

“We are on track to open the bridge to pedestrians and cyclists this autumn. I look forward to the next phases”, says Ryeng.

Aluminium – a century of maintenance-free performance

The Hangar Bridge is a truly green infrastructure project. According to a recent life cycle analysis by COWI, the use of recycled, locally sourced aluminium results in 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to stainless steel. This is primarily due to aluminium’s lower weight, which reduces the need for heavy foundations. Additionally, the bridge deck made from the recycled Gyda oil platform contributes to the project’s low carbon footprint.

Key advantages of aluminium as a construction material

• Corrosion-resistant, requiring minimal maintenance
• Flexible in design, enabling faster installation
• Fully recyclable, with a low carbon footprint
• Approximately 75% of all aluminium ever produced remains in use today

The project stakeholders

Leirvik AS designed the bridge in collaboration with COWI and partnered with Hydro, Aker Solutions, and Stena for the recycled bridge deck. The NPRA collaborates closely with SINTEF and NTNU, as a partner in the SFI Physmet research centre. Winsnes AS executed the groundworks.