Bridge Spanning Sweden and Denmark Partially Reopened After Road is Waterproofed
The Øresund Motorway on the Danish side of the bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden, was partially reopened to traffic on Thursday afternoon after being closed due to water on the road seeping through from below.
Earlier in the day, Danish police closed the Oresund Bridge on the affected side, halting traffic heading from Sweden to Denmark for several hours. The closure was due to water seeping up from underneath the motorway and undermining the road surface.
Copenhagen Police chief Henrik Stormer later revealed that a water-related issue put the road foundation at risk. Sund & Bælt, the bridge operator, subsequently confirmed the issue and is working to ascertain the tolerances of the road following the water damage.
Minor damage was confirmed to the left-hand lane next to the central reservation. Vehicles are being diverted onto the right-hand lane and hard shoulder to avoid the damaged section. Kim Agersø Nielsen, technical director of Sund & Bælt, stated they are measuring the load-bearing capacity of the asphalt to ensure it can withstand traffic.
Sund & Bælt will monitor the road for the next 24 hours and repair the damage overnight. The reopened bridge will operate with a reduced speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour.
Bridge operator Sund & Bælt announced that water was no longer encroaching onto the motorway just after 1:30pm. Motorists can check the bridge status on the Øresundsbron website and follow traffic updates via the Danish Roads Directorate's live map.
The water leak and resulting road damage were caused by a rupture in a water main. Sund & Bælt is working with the best specialists to reopen the road as soon as possible.
This incident serves as a reminder to the importance of maintaining the infrastructure that connects our countries. We encourage all motorists to stay informed and follow traffic updates to ensure a safe journey.
Read also:
- Aquatech purchases Koch's Direct Lithium Extraction business, merging Li-ProTM DLE technology into the PEARLTM Technology Platform.
- Li Auto faces scrutiny after crash test involving i8 model and a truck manufacturer sparks controversy
- Emerging Investment Trends in China's Ethical Finance Sector for 2025
- Construction and renovation projects in Cham county granted €24.8 million focus on energy efficiency
