Sortland Bridge
Encyclopedia
Sortland Bridge is a cantilever
road bridge that crosses Sortlandssundet between Strand
on Hinnøya
and the town of Sortland
on Langøya
in Nordland
county, Norway
. The bridge is 948 metres long, the main span is 150 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 30 metres. The bridge has 21 spans.
Sortland Bridge was opened in 1975. It was one of 4 bridges that were built in the 1970s to connect the islands of Vesterålen
to each other. The other bridges that were built during that period are Hadsel Bridge
, Andøy Bridge
and Kvalsaukan Bridge
. Together with Tjeldsund Bridge
near Harstad
these bridges connect the islands of Vesterålen to the mainland. Sortland Bridge was a toll bridge for many years after its opening.
Before the bridge was built, a ferry carried passengers across the sound. The ferry crossing was one of the busiest in Norway.
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
road bridge that crosses Sortlandssundet between Strand
Strand, Norway
Strand is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the region of Ryfylke. Strand was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Høle was separated from Strand in 1842....
on Hinnøya
Hinnøya
-Geography and environment:Covering an area of , it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only...
and the town of Sortland
Sortland
is a town and municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Vesterålen traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sortland. In 1997, the municipality decided to declare township for Sortland...
on Langøya
Langøya
Langøya is the third largest island of Norway , with an area of . The island is a part of Vesterålen, and is situated in Nordland county, just west of Hinnøya. The Sortlandssundet divides the two islands. It includes the municipality of Bø, and parts of the municipalities of Øksnes, Sortland and...
in Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The bridge is 948 metres long, the main span is 150 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 30 metres. The bridge has 21 spans.
Sortland Bridge was opened in 1975. It was one of 4 bridges that were built in the 1970s to connect the islands of Vesterålen
Vesterålen
Vesterålen is a district and archipelago in Nordland, Norway, just north of Lofoten.-The name:The Norse forms of the name were Vestráll and Vestrálar . The first element is vestr n west, the last element is áll m ' sound, strait'...
to each other. The other bridges that were built during that period are Hadsel Bridge
Hadsel Bridge
Hadsel Bridge is a cantilever road bridge that crosses Langøysundet between Langøya and Børøya in Nordland county in Norway. Together with Børøy Bridge it connects Hadseløya and the town of Stokmarknes to Langøya. Hadsel Bridge is 1011 metres long, the main span is 150 metres, and the maximum...
, Andøy Bridge
Andøy Bridge
Andøy Bridge is a cantilever road bridge that crosses Risøysundet between Andøya and Hinnøya in Nordland county in Norway. The bridge is 750 metres long, the main span is 110 metres, and the maximum clearing to the sea is 30 metres. The bridge has 21 spans.Andøy Bridge was opened in 1974...
and Kvalsaukan Bridge
Kvalsaukan Bridge
Kvalsaukan Bridge is a bridge that crosses Hognfjorden in Nordland county in Norway, on the road between Sortland and Andøy. The bridge is 425 metres long, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 8 metres....
. Together with Tjeldsund Bridge
Tjeldsund Bridge
The Tjeldsund Bridge is a suspension road bridge that crosses Tjeldsundet between the mainland and Hinnøya in Troms county in Norway. The bridge is 1007 metres long, the main span is 290 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 41 metres...
near Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
these bridges connect the islands of Vesterålen to the mainland. Sortland Bridge was a toll bridge for many years after its opening.
Before the bridge was built, a ferry carried passengers across the sound. The ferry crossing was one of the busiest in Norway.