Rendezvous at dizzying heights

A cool breeze and rays of sun from the south set the scene when transport history was written 72 metres above Eidfjorden, an arm of the Hardanger fjord. For the first time ever this fjord could be crossed on foot. The mayors from the municipalities on each side led the way for delegations that met halfway across the fjord on the wire mesh footbridge that serves as a suspended work platform for the bridge builders.

Ode to a footbridge

Solfrid Borge, mayor of Ullensvang, was first among the delegation from Bu, while her colleague Mona Hellesnes of Ulvik was at the forefront of those who started from Vallavik. Behind them were the mayors of Eidfjord and Granvin, other official guests and the media, as well as project management in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the steel contractor, MT Højgaard of Denmark.

Solfrid Borge had written an ode to her colleague Mona Hellesnes, which she recited at their rendezvous high on the footbridge:

”MT Højgaard has built a footbridge between Vallavik and Bu – and here in the middle now stand we two!
At a height of 70 metres above our fjord we can see that our wishes have not been ignored!
Mighty towers look down at us from each side; majestically we cross the great divide!
The bridge that is emerging deserves our praise: in its honour a toast we raise!”

Returning to dry ground

After a leisurely ceremony and chat high above the fjord, followed by interviews with media from near and far, those attending walked up the footbridge to the tower in Vallavik. Most of them enjoyed the climb so much that they decided to continue on down the steep side span to the anchorage.

On arriving they were welcomed with catwalk cake and more words of acclaim. This occasion will be remembered as a major milestone for the Hardanger bridge, and credit was given to all those who have invested effort in making this project come to life.

Bridge festival proposed

Børre Stensvold is head of the Bridge Section of the Directorate of Public Roads, which has been responsible for the planning of this project. He pointed out that the Hardanger bridge means significant advances for Norwegian bridge technology. As the world’s longest two-lane suspension bridge, it has been the focus of considerable interest abroad and will attract many new visitors to Hardanger in the years to come, he added.

On this occasion Mr Stensvold launched the idea of the local communities staging an annual bridge festival in Hardanger.

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