Concreting of Hardanger bridge pylons completed

“This is a major milestone for work on the bridge” says project manager Øivind L. Søvik of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. He has climbed up the last step, bringing him to 202.5 m above the sun-bathed fjord at Vallavik.

Somewhat behind schedule

Construction company Veidekke’s bridge crew affixed the company pennant to the Vallavik pylon on 9 May. Three days later, the last pour for the tower house at Bu has also been completed. Now it’s a matter of removing the formwork and then derigging the construction lift and crane, before the steel contractor comes in and takes over the next stage of the construction of the Hardanger Bridge.

Pouring of the concrete for the foundation for the bridge pylons started in October 2009 at Bu and in January 2010 at Vallavik. The Vallavik pylon is 8 m shorter, but both tower 202.5 m above the fjord.

“The work is a bit behind schedule, so MT Høygaard will have access to the towers some weeks later than expected, but this should not have any effect on the plans to open the Hardanger Bridge in June 2013”, says Søvik.

Anchorage delivered

The construction of viaducts between tunnel and pylon on both sides of the fjord is also under way. The foundations at Vallavik and Bu were delivered by the concrete contractor to the steel contractor in the spring. In May the remainder of the cable delivery reached Bu from England, and the contractor will start spinning the cable as soon as the catwalk is completed at the end of the summer.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•