Bridge 18 – the bridge that came before the canal

In Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district, former port and industrial areas are being transformed into new urban neighbourhoods with homes, workplaces, infrastructure and canals. As part of this development, a bridge provisionally known as Bridge 18 will carry the area’s main road, Sundkrogsgade, across the future Roerkanal, which will separate the new neighbourhoods of Svanemølleholm and Trælastholm.

Bridge 18 differs from most bridges in that it was built before the canal it will cross had been fully constructed. Instead of being built over water, the bridge had to be integrated into the development of an area where the terrain, canals and infrastructure are gradually taking shape.

A bridge for traffic and utilities

Although the bridge could be built on dry land, its design was far from straightforward. Bridge 18 is more than a crossing for cars, cyclists and pedestrians: it also provides an important route for utility infrastructure. Routes for water, electricity and communications, among other services, had to be integrated into the bridge while keeping its structure as simple as possible. This required close coordination with the various utility owners.

The bridge is 32.5 metres wide, has a span of 20 metres and comprises four separate steel structures: two road bridges and two bridges for cyclists and pedestrians. This arrangement serves both architectural and functional purposes, with open gaps between the bridge sections allowing daylight to reach the future canal below.

The four bridge sections weigh approximately 300 tonnes in total and were installed using two large mobile cranes. Including parapets, supports and utility ducts, the complete structure weighs 337 tonnes.

ISC prepared the preliminary design, detailed design and tender documentation for the bridge structure and its substructure. The consultancy services also included design support and technical supervision during construction.