Skarnsund Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Skarnsund Bridge**
Official name	Skarnsundet bru
Carries	Road Vehicles and Pedestrients
Crosses	Skarnsundet
Locale	Inderøy-Mosvik border
Maintained by	Nord-Trøndelag Road Department
Design	Cable-stayed bridge
Longest span	530 m / 1 739 ft
Total length	1 010 m / 3 314 ft
Clearance below	45 m / 148 ft
Opening date	19th December 1991
Toll	NOK 33 / 66 / 198 / 330

The bridge as seen from Inderøy

The Skarnsund Bridge connects the municipalities of Mosvik and Inderøy in Nord-Trøndelag in Norway together as part of route 755. The sound Skarnsund connects the fjord Trondheimsfjorden with the fjord Beitstadforden while the bridge connects the regions of Innherred with Fosen.

The bridge was opended by King Harold V of Norway on 19th December 1991 at the picnic stop beside the west foot of the bridge, where one can find "the king stone" with the king's signature.

The ferry connection between Vangshylla on the Inderøy side and Kjerringvik on the Mosvik side was replaced by the bridge. The ferry had hourly departures from each side and was operated by Innherredsferga (who now are part of Fosen Trafikklag, but who still operate the ferry between Levanger and Ytterøy).

The Bridge is one of the world's longest cable-stayed bridge, with a length of 1 010 meters. The span is 530 meters, while the two towers are 152 metes above sea level. The sailing height is 45 meters. The bridge was, on its completion, the longest cross cable bridge in the world, but has now lost this title.

In total, the bridge cost 219 million NOK, whereof 30% was to be paid by tolls, which are collected at a toll plaza on the Inderøy side. The company AS Skarnsundbrua was incorporated to collect the money, and it is expected that the bridge will be paid for by fall 2007 at which time tolls will be removed from the bridge.

The tolls are at present

Motor bikes 33 NOK
Cars 66 NOK
Trucks 198 NOK
Trucks with trailers 330 NOK

The Skarnsund Bridge has won many awards, including "Beautiful Roads Award", "The Road Director's Award", "The Concrete Plate -92" and "FIP Award" (an international concrete award". The original construction work also included 1.6 km of new road. In the construction of the bridge, starting in 1988, 19.600 km³ concrete was used and the 208 cables with a total length of 33 km weigh 1 030 tonnes. The cables have a diameter varying between 52 mm and 85 mm and can, if need be, be replaced separately. The bridge is fundamented in bedrock below the seabed under each tower. The bridge was build to withstand winds up to 48,5 m/s (century storms) and is control calculated for earth quakes.