Norway considers wooden bridge across Lake Mjosa

Norway could be home to the world’s longest wooden bridge if the government gives the go-ahead for a span across Lake Mjosa. In a new report, researchers conclude that it is possible, both technically and economically, to build a 1.7km wooden bridge between the towns Biri and Moelv. Importantly, the report notes that construction cost differences between a wooden and concrete structure would be little. Estimates for a wooden bridge are around €420 million while for a concrete structure would come in about €
May 12, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Norway could be home to the world’s longest wooden bridge if the government gives the go-ahead for a span across Lake Mjosa.


In a new report, researchers conclude that it is possible, both technically and economically, to build a 1.7km wooden bridge between the towns Biri and Moelv. Importantly, the report notes that construction cost differences between a wooden and concrete structure would be little.

Estimates for a wooden bridge are around €420 million while for a concrete structure would come in about €410 million, according to Trond Arne Stensby, project manager at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration - 1208 Statens vegvesen.

The 468m-deep Lake Mjøsa is one of the deepest in Europe and the fourth-deepest lake in Norway. It stretches for 117km and is about 15km at its widest. The lake is 123m above sea level and lies about 100km north of the capital Oslo.

One bridge already crosses the lake, the Mjøsa Bridge that was opened 1985 and is part of the main north-south highway in Norway, the E6. The concrete box girder bridge has spans of around 69m and rests on piles in water up to 40m deep. The bridge has two lanes of traffic and separate pedestrian and cycling lane.

Previous studies have considered a four-lane link on Highway E6 between the cities of Hamar and Lillehammer – site of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Timber construction alternatives include a truss structure with two underlying trusses composite with a concrete bridge deck. Typical span width is 69m and be cable stay supported.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Novel phones for Norway’s new bridge
    May 10, 2012
    Norphonic emergency roadside telephones (ERT) have been selected for the Hardanger Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, crossing the picturesque Hardangerfjord in southwestern Norway. The Hardanger Bridge will be among of the longest suspension bridges in the world, even longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, with a total suspension-span of 1310 meters and will significantly improve the connection between Norway’s two largest cities (Oslo and Bergen). Norphonic was awarded
    Read More
  • Carbon neutral roads future for Norway
    May 10, 2022
    Norway is looking to make its roads carbon neutral.
    Read More
  • Norway contract tender attracts bids
    October 15, 2019
    Interest is said to be strong for the project to build the Mjøsa bridge and E6 route connecting Moelv with Roterud in Norway. The project includes building a bridge spanning Lake Mjøsa as well as a 9.4km stretch of road. Five consortia have prequalified for the bidding process. The project is worth €262 million and Norway’s state-owned road business Nye Veier is expected to award the contract in the second quarter of 2020, with planned to commence in the first quarter of 2021.
    Read More
  • Tekla models its BIM software
    January 30, 2015
    More and more design and construction of infrastructure, from buildings and power plants to highways are using building information modelling software. BIM is increasingly the must-have ability for a supply chain and Tekla Structures Construction Modeling software allows concrete contractors to be part of the 3D BIM model.
    Read More

Highlighted Content