Masnedsund Bridge
Encyclopedia
Masnedsund Bridge is a road and railway bascule bridge
that crosses Masnedsund between the islands Masnedø
and Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark
.
Together with Storstrøm Bridge
it connects Falster
and Zealand and was the main road connection between the islands until the Farø Bridges
were opened in 1985. It was officially opened on 6 August 1937, and replaced an older railway bridge that was opened on 15 January 1884, and a ferry. The new bridges were commissioned by the Danish state railways (Danske Statsbaner
) and designed by them with assistance from Christiani & Nielsen
A/S of Copenhagen. Construction was by Dorman Long
and company, with Christiani & Nielsen acting as sub-contractors responsible for foundations and reinforced concrete sections. The contract for the work was signed on 13 May 1933.
The bridge is 601 metres long and 8.8 metres wide, with main span of 25 metres. It rests on five piers, with abutments at either end. One of the piers contains the machinery for operating the bascule. Each pier has concrete foundations set into the bed of the sea. A cofferdam was placed around each pier site, before excavating and then filling with concrete. After the base slab had been laid, the cofferdams could be emptied of water and the rest of the pier was constructed. Timber piles were used for the construction of the abutment foundations, and to reinforce one of the piers.
On 12 December 1935 an English steam ship ran into the old Masnedsund Bridge, and destroyed part of it. At that time the new bridge was being built, and it was decided to hasten the building. The railway part of the new bridge was opened on 22 December 1935.
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
that crosses Masnedsund between the islands Masnedø
Masnedø
Masnedø is a Danish island between Zealand and Falster. The island covers an area of 1.68 km² and has 156 inhabitants. Masnedø can be reached by the Masnedsund Bridge from Zealand or the Storstrøm Bridge from Falster...
and Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Together with Storstrøm Bridge
Storstrøm Bridge
Storstrøm Bridge is a road and railway arch bridge that crosses Storstrømmen between the islands of Falster and Masnedø in Denmark....
it connects Falster
Falster
Falster is an island in south-eastern Denmark with an area of 514 km² and 43,398 inhabitants as of 1 January 2010. Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland and is administered by Guldborgsund Municipality...
and Zealand and was the main road connection between the islands until the Farø Bridges
Farø Bridges
300px|thumb|The Farø Bridges from above: Zealand to the left, Falster to the right and Bogø at the top The Farø Bridges are two road bridges that connect the islands of Falster and Zealand in Denmark by way of the small island of Farø which is approximately mid-way across the Storstrømmen sound...
were opened in 1985. It was officially opened on 6 August 1937, and replaced an older railway bridge that was opened on 15 January 1884, and a ferry. The new bridges were commissioned by the Danish state railways (Danske Statsbaner
Danske Statsbaner
DSB, an abbreviation of Danske Statsbaner , is the largest Danish train operating company, and the largest in Scandinavia. While DSB is responsible for passenger train operation on most of the Danish railways, goods transport and railway maintenance are outside its scope...
) and designed by them with assistance from Christiani & Nielsen
Christiani & Nielsen
Christiani & Nielsen is a construction contractor with major operations in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Originally a Danish company, it is today a listed company majority owned by the Crown Property Bureau of King Bhumibol of Thailand....
A/S of Copenhagen. Construction was by Dorman Long
Dorman Long
Dorman Long, based in Middlesbrough, North East England, was a major steel producer, which diversified into bridge building, and is now a manufacturer of steel components and construction equipment for bridges and other structures...
and company, with Christiani & Nielsen acting as sub-contractors responsible for foundations and reinforced concrete sections. The contract for the work was signed on 13 May 1933.
The bridge is 601 metres long and 8.8 metres wide, with main span of 25 metres. It rests on five piers, with abutments at either end. One of the piers contains the machinery for operating the bascule. Each pier has concrete foundations set into the bed of the sea. A cofferdam was placed around each pier site, before excavating and then filling with concrete. After the base slab had been laid, the cofferdams could be emptied of water and the rest of the pier was constructed. Timber piles were used for the construction of the abutment foundations, and to reinforce one of the piers.
On 12 December 1935 an English steam ship ran into the old Masnedsund Bridge, and destroyed part of it. At that time the new bridge was being built, and it was decided to hasten the building. The railway part of the new bridge was opened on 22 December 1935.