A network arch bridge featuring a deck made from recycled material salvaged from a decommissioned oil platform has been installed over a railway station in the city of Trondheim in a single, precisely coordinated lift.
The 55m by 9m Hangar Bridge (Bd&e issue 116), designed for pedestrians and cyclists, was commissioned by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) under its FjordX research and development initiative that explores cost-effective, sustainable infrastructure solutions.
“All the critical elements aligned perfectly,” said Torstein Ryeng, NPRA’s project manager. “We completed the operation within the designated time window during Bane NOR’s scheduled railway closure in mid-June,” added Ryeng.
The bridge was fabricated and built by Leirvik, a supplier of large aluminium structures. The contractor began works in May 2024 (link opens in new window). Following a successful test assembly of the superstructure in December 2024, the bridge’s four main segments were shipped to Trondheim in March 2025 and welded together on-site. Workers also installed suspension rods, railings, and safety nets ahead of the final lift.
“The opportunity to test recycled aluminium in a bridge structure represents an important milestone. The Hangar Bridge will help advance the development of competitive, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for environmentally friendly aluminium bridges,” said Geir Mosaker, project manager at Leirvik.
Outfitted with sensors to monitor its structural behaviour, the bridge will generate valuable data to better understand how aluminium performs as a structural material – insights that could shape future design standards. “The insights gained from this project will be instrumental in our continued efforts to develop longer-span aluminium bridges for future projects,” added Mosaker.
With the bridge now in place, finishing works such as paving are under way, ahead of its official opening in autumn 2025.
