The Danish Road Directorate is in the process of an extensive procedure to update the plans for the demolition of the existing Storstrøm Bridge.
The new Storstrøm Bridge is expected to be ready in 2027, and thereafter the work to remove the old bridge can begin. Since the original environmental assessment for the project was conducted between 2013 and 2015, there is now a need to update the environmental basis, especially in light of changes in legislation and practice as well as increased focus on climate and sustainability.
Local stakeholders have expressed interest in reusing parts of the old bridge for cultural and artistic purposes. Therefore, the Danish Road Directorate will explore scenarios where parts of the bridge are preserved, including possibilities for using materials from the bridge for coastal protection and stone reefs.
- The old bridge contains large amounts of steel and concrete, which of course must be recycled in the best way. The possibilities for recycling the components are many, and now we need to find the best uses before the bridge is demolished, says Niels Gottlieb from the Danish Road Directorate and project manager for the construction.
The existing bridge consists of approximately 265,000 tons of concrete and 20,000 tons of steel. At the same time, some parts of the structure contain heavy metals, chlorinated paraffins, and asbestos, which must be handled correctly during demolition.
Climate calculations and navigation safety
Part of the work will include climate calculations that assess CO2 savings by preserving parts of the bridge, and analyses of navigation safety if elements of the bridge are left in the water. The Danish Maritime Authority will be involved in the safety assessments.
Vordingborg and Guldborgsund Municipalities will hold public meetings with the participation of the Danish Road Directorate to involve the local population in the process. Politically, decisions will be made on the various scenarios for the demolition.
The demolition is estimated to cost 333 million DKK, excluding design and administration. The update of the basis for the demolition is expected to take two years and will cost between 5 and 10 million DKK.
