Dissing+Weitling, COWI and Arkitema win international competition on a new rail bridge in Oxberg, Sweden

Sne overview banevej
October 15, 2020

The new signature bridge of Österdal River will be designed by a team composed of the engineering company COWI, bridge architects Dissing+Weitling, and, on the landscaping side, Arkitema.

  • This experienced team has just won the international bridge competition organised by the Swedish Transport Administration. The competition included five international pre-qualified teams.

    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.

  • Sne bred bane
  • Jesper B. Henriksen, Partner and Architect at Dissing+Weitling says about the bridge design:

    - 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. Our 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.

    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.