In the design of the bridges of the causeway to be built in Hailuoto, the aim is to include the nearby Natura 2,000 areas. For example, there is no lighting on the road.
There are several Natura 2,000 areas around Luodonselkä in the vicinity of Hailuoto’s land connection. According to nature surveys, the area contains endangered plant species, a rare sea urchin beetle and plenty of rare bird species. Based on these, the design of the road and bridges is guided by the Natura requirements, according to the designer.
For the Huiku bridge, a so-called reinforced concrete composite girder bridge has been chosen, where the concrete bridge deck and steel beams work together as a load-bearing structure. The load-bearing structure of the second bridge is reinforced concrete, where the beams of the reinforced concrete deck structure are in tension.
Because the bedrock in the area is exceptionally deep, the foundations of the bridges use long concreted steel pipe piles that rest on the hard moraine layer.
– The depth of the water is quite shallow at the causeway. Long bridges come in deep places and with bridge openings we ensure that water can continue to flow and change in the sea area. In addition, harsh sea conditions such as ice and waves challenge the bridge designer, says Mosorin.
Icebreakers are built on the intermediate supports of the bridges, which are used to break the ice masses before they can weigh down and overload the foundations of the bridges.
The fixed road connection to be built between Oulu’s Riutunkari and Hailuoto’s Huiku will be implemented by an alliance that includes the Väylävirasto, GRK Suomi as the builder, AFRY as the designer, and Plaana and Ponvia, who belong to A-Insinoörei.
The appeal made against the water permit decision of the land association is still being processed by the administrative court. The construction of embankments and bridges can begin when the decision on the water permit is legally binding.
According to the current estimate, construction could start in the spring of 2023, if the administrative court’s decision comes this year and the decision is not appealed. In this case, the fixed connection would open to traffic in 2025 at the earliest and the ferry service would end.
The budget for the fixed connection between Oulu and Hailuoto is around 96 million euros.
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