Sweden's First All-Stainless Bridge
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DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL was chosen for this footbridge in Stockholm, Sweden (seen here at night) to create a sense of harmony with the surrounding architecture (top two photos) and to reduce maintenance costs. It spans the brackish waters (0.5% contained salts) of the Sickla Canal. |
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Corrosion-resistant duplex stainless steel helps beautify Stockholm's newest
suburb. By Sten von Matern
Nickel magazine, February 2003 -- Spanning the Sickla Canal in the new
residential area of Hammarby Sjöstad, in the southern part of Stockholm, Sweden, is a shiny
new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. The design, by three Swedish architects Erik Andersson, Jelena
Mijanovic and Magnus Ståhl, is called Apaté (a Greek word meaning 'mirage'). In 1998 it was the
winning entry in an international design competition.
The footbridge is 62 metres long, constructed of 80 tonnes of duplex stainless steel
S32205, and resembles a bow or harp with the chords underneath. The load-bearing portion comprises
an arched central box girder with a triangular cross-section and tensioning cables fixed in the concrete
foundations at both ends of the bridge. The handrails are made of tubes of the same grade of stainless
steel and have built-in lighting. Only the walkway is coated with asphalt, the rest being
welded stainless steel. Plate thicknesses vary from 8 to 20 millimetres.
The designers opted for stainless steel in order to create a sense of harmony with the surrounding
architecture. The additional materials costs (compared to typical mild steel) are expected to be at least
partially offset over time by greatly reduced maintenance and painting costs.
Sten von Matern is a Sweden-based consultant to the Nickel Development Institute.
Middle Photo: STEN VON MATERN/NiDI
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