Partnership of Aas-Jakobsen, COWI, and Multiconsult with Johs Holt to Develop Optimal Bridge Solutions for E39 over Sulafjorden and Halsafjorden
The collaboration between Aas-Jakobsen, COWI, and Multiconsult with Johs Holt will assist the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) in developing the most advantageous bridge solutions for the E39 crossings over Sulafjorden and Halsafjorden. The consulting team has been awarded five of the eight preliminary projects for the two fjord crossings in Møre og Romsdal.
•“These are exciting and challenging tasks that truly push the boundaries of bridge construction. We will draw on experience from previous large-scale, innovative bridge projects,” says Gunnar Egset, Department Manager for Transport Infrastructure at Multiconsult and Managing Director at Johs Holt.
Egset highlights that the partnership will build on experience gained, particularly from the Bjørnafjorden bridge design collaboration.
Unique Expertise
The group has been awarded the preliminary projects for all suspension bridge solutions for crossing Sulafjorden and one suspension bridge over Halsafjorden. Both fjord crossings are part of the ferry-free E39 in Møre og Romsdal county.
•“We won thanks to our solid design proposals and the group’s unique expertise, and we are very pleased that Statens vegvesen has given us this recognition. It’s a feather in the cap for the entire consulting group’s bridge engineering team, and now that we’ve signed, we’re eager to get started,” says Erik Sundet, Head of Bridges and Geotechnical Disciplines at COWI.
Innovative Bridge Solutions
Sulafjorden, between Hareid and Sula, spans 3.5 to 4.0 kilometers in width and is up to 450 meters deep at the proposed bridge locations, with significant exposure to wind and waves. Aas-Jakobsen, COWI, and Multiconsult will examine five alternative suspension bridge concepts with one, two, and three spans using both fixed and floating foundations—concepts largely unprecedented in bridge construction. Depending on the final choice, this may be the longest suspension span globally on a suspension bridge.
Halsafjorden, a fjord in Nordmøre, is two kilometers wide and 500 meters deep at the proposed crossing point. Here, the joint team of the three companies will investigate a two-span suspension bridge on a floating foundation mid-fjord, anchored to the seabed.
•“These projects offer companies the opportunity to apply and further develop the expertise gained through involvement in advanced long-span bridges, floating bridges, and marine structures domestically and internationally. At the same time, it’s highly rewarding to work with experts from different firms. We look forward to a successful collaboration with Statens vegvesen,” says Jarle Rønvik, Director of the Bridge Department at Aas-Jakobsen.
The partnership has enlisted specialized expertise from subcontractors including Aker Solutions, Kværner, Moss Maritime, Entail, NGI, Safetec, Dissing + Weitling, and Plan Architects.
The concept studies will begin in May and are scheduled for completion by April 1, 2022.
