Hardanger Bridge is a bridge under construction which will cross the Hardangerfjord in southwestern Norway. It will replace today's ferry connection, a part of the shortest road connection between Oslo and Bergen.
The bridge will be about 1380 metres long, with a main span of 1310 meters. It will be a suspension bridge, one of the longest spans in the world (no 7 in today's list, no 9 when completed, and no 1 in Norway).
The small difference between length and span is because the fjord quickly becomes very deep, and the towers must stand on shore. Also there are steep mountain walls. On both sides the road will enter tunnels directly from the bridge. The maximum water depth near the bridge is about 500 m, and the mountains surrounding the fjord are about 1200 m high.
The cost will be 1,8 billion Norwegian kroner, and construction start was in February 2009, and opening is planned 2013.
The engineering part of the project will be done by Statens Vegvesen, Veidirektoratet. The cable bands, tower saddles and splay saddles have been manufactured in the UK by Goodwin Steel Castings Ltd.
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