Groundbreaking ceremony for Copenhagen Harbour Bridge

Buro Happold attended the ‘Groundbreaking’ ceremony in Copenhagen for the new pedestrian and cyclists’ bridge.  The ceremony included speeches from Morten Kabell, the Copenhagen Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs and Jesper Nygård, CEO, Realdania.

We are working with Realdania, and Wilkinson Eyre Architects to provide a stunning new swing bridge for the city, using an innovative locking technique to secure the bridges sections when closed. Our team designed a striking and beautifully engineered double-opening swing bridge that clears 35 metres to allow ships to pass underneath. It is curved in plan, and incorporates a cycle way and a footpath, which will provide a safe path for users to cross the harbour and improve access between the two sides of the water.

Today’s ceremony really encapsulated what this bridge seeks to achieve – bringing people together.
_{Davood Liaghat, head of bridge engineering and civil structures, Buro Happold}

A key feature of the design is our team’s development of the bridge’s moment connection. The opening and closing mechanism consists of two horizontally rotating elements, mounted on slewing rings, which when closed fit together seamlessly. We then designed a series of mechanical components which form the structural moment connection that lock the two moveable parts together. This is imperative to achieving the architectural intent, as it avoids the need to raise the height of the bridge over the supports, allowing the structural depth to be kept to a minimum so that users can enjoy views across the harbour.

“Today’s ceremony really encapsulated what this bridge seeks to achieve – bringing people together. For the city of Copenhagen the Harbour Bridge will provide much needed extra capacity for both pedestrians and cyclists in the city, and connects two historical parts of the city together.  I cannot wait to see the finished structure when it opens to the public in the summer of 2018” Davood Liaghat, head of bridge engineering and civil structures.

The bridge aims to enhance urban life and vibrancy on the waterfront, creating connections and ensuring a safe and accessible bridge for the use of pedestrians and cyclists, in order to strengthen cycling culture in the city.