World's largest digital suspension bridge under construction in Norway

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The new Sotra Bridge in Norway promises innovation and efficiency in bridge construction

Construction of the world's largest fully digital suspension bridge has begun in Norway. The Sotra Bridge in Knarrevika is being built by the Norwegian Road Administration Statens vegvesen. The new Sotra Bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on 1 June 2027.

All planning and future operation of the bridge will be done in a digital way. The digital model of the bridge was created as a digital twin of the physical bridge, without paper drawings. This enables efficient cooperation between all partners involved in the construction. The digital implementation is the result of Statens vegvesen's focus on innovation and digital solutions.

The new bridge is part of the national road 555 Sotrasambandet, which connects Sotra with Bergen and has a main span of 608 metres and a length of 901 metres. The project has a contract value of NOK 19.8 billion. The bridge will have four lanes and a pedestrian walkway and will reduce travel time between Sotra and Bergen by 20 minutes.

The caissons that will be used for the foundation of the 145-metre high bridge tower are currently being transported and lowered on barges. This is a complex task that requires careful planning, as daylight, wind and tides have to be taken into account. Divers and underwater drones are used to ensure that the boxes are placed correctly.

The use of digital models offers many advantages over traditional drawings, including improved collaboration, fewer errors and delays in the construction process, and the ability to digitally manage the bridge after completion. This should lead to higher quality, lower costs and more reliable transport projects.

More on the new Sotra bridge in Norway.

Header: © Ben Harding