Oxberg road and railbridge
Landmark bridge near the world’s biggest cross-country ski race
The bridge has a simple and elegant design with a dynamic appearance that naturally blends in with the surroundings and speaks to the history and position of the place in relation to a world-famous cross-country ski race.
- Location
- Sweden
- Category
- Road Bridges and Tunnels
- Year
- 2020 - 2024
- Client
- Trafikverket
- Collaborators
- COWI, Arkitema
The new Oxberg rail bridge and a separate road bridge will replace one of Sweden's few remaining fully combined road and rail bridges spanning the Österdal River north of Oxberg in Dalecarlia (Dalerne in Sweden). A striking bridge will be built as a replacement for the existing bridge in the scenic area that hosts the world’s biggest cross-country ski race, Vasaloppet. The architectural and constructional values of the bridge weave into the history of a special place and point to the future in terms of design.
Dissing+Weitling's bridge design won an international competition in 2020 organised by the Swedish Transport Administration. When explaining their decision to choose the Danish bridge design, the jury said:
”Kinetik” is a fully fledged proposal, in which form, construction and feasibility have been weighted equally, and demonstrates a very successful collaboration between architect and engineer. The two bridges have been designed as an architectural unity and appear as a beautiful silhouette from a distance – but they have also been designed down to the last detail and have qualities even close up.
The bridge will have a simple and elegant design – with a dynamic appearance that naturally blends in with the surroundings and speaks to the history and position of the place in relation to a world-famous cross-country ski race.
We've created a design which, together with all technical, environmental and aesthetic qualities, can become the landmark that the town wants. The solution simulates the movement of a skier and is beautifully lit.
With its moderate scale, it confirms that we're in the countryside, but in a valuable context. The large crystalline surfaces will sparkle in the light and create a harmonious interaction with the water and nature.