The floating crane “Svanen” brings a bridge section in position. Each section is 140 meters long and weighs 6,500 tonnes. Photo: Øresundsbron

The 8 km Øresund Bridge between the artificial island and the Swedish coast consists of three components:

• A western approach bridge
• A cable-stayed high bridge 1,092 meters long
  with a main span of 490 meters.
  Navigational clearance is 55 meters
• An eastern approach bridge

The entire Øresund bridge superstructure is a composite steel-concrete construction. The upper deck contains the four lane motorway and the two-track railway is on the lower deck.

Each pylon consists of twin, cast-in-situ concrete towers extending to a height of 204 meters above sea level. Cables are anchored into the pylons at intervals of 12 meters.

 
The pylon legs are cast by means of steel formwork in 4 meter sections. Photo: Øresundsbron

Foundation for both pylons and side span piers are huge prefabricated caissons located in the Copenhagen limestone 14 to 17 meters below sea level. Each of the foundations is surrounded by a submerged protection reef to alleviate the high impact forces which would otherwise occur in the event of a ship colliding with the pier.

Caissons and pier shafts were produced in factories in the North harbour of Malmö, less than 20 km from the alignment. The bridge superstructure was constructed in Cadiz, Spain and floated in 140 meter sections to the construction site.

 
Bridge pier shaft production in Malmö North Harbour. Photo: Øresundsbron