The bridge, which is on the E39 just north of Narvik, opened to traffic on 9 December but just a month later one of the bolts that connects the main cable strands to the anchorage was found to have cracked. Ultrasound inspections are being carried out on all of the 344 identical bolts with 12 having been identified for replacement so far.
The cause of the cracking has yet to be identified, and until it is known, and all the bolts have been checked, twice-daily inspections of all the anchor bolts is being carried out.
The superstructure and cables of the bridge were built by Sichuan Road & Bridge Group. Statens Vegvesen says it is taking a number of steps to resolve the situation, as well as the twice-daily inspections of the bolts. This includes working with the contractor to get new bolts produced as quickly as possible and to find out why the first bolt failed; analysing the results of the ultrasonic inspections of the bolts; examining the damaged bolt in detail, and investigating possible measures to make the suspect bolts safe until they can be replaced.
Statens Vegvesen says that the failure of this bolt does not compromise the load-bearing capacity of the bridge, but it has put contingency plans in place to enable the bridge to be closed if more failures occur.
