Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark partially reopened after road was waterproofed
On Thursday, traffic between Sweden and Denmark was disrupted due to a water-related incident on the Øresund Motorway. The Danish Roads Directorate, in collaboration with Sund & Bælt, is investigating the integrity of the road surface following the unexpected event.
According to preliminary reports, groundwater seeped through the road surface from below, undermining the road surface and causing minor damage to the left-hand lane next to the central reservation. This issue posed a risk to the road foundation, as confirmed by Copenhagen Police chief Henrik Stormer.
Sund & Bælt, the bridge operator, initially mentioned an unusual incident on the road without providing details. Subsequently, they confirmed that water was no longer encroaching onto the motorway at around 1:30pm.
To ensure the safety of motorists and facilitate repairs, Danish police closed the Oresund Bridge on the affected side, halting traffic. Vehicles are being diverted onto the right-hand lane and hard shoulder to avoid the damaged section.
Kim Agersø Nielsen, the company's technical director, stated they are working with specialists to reopen the road as soon as possible. Sund & Bælt will closely monitor the road for the next 24 hours and repair the damage overnight. Once repaired, the reopened road will operate with a reduced speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour.
For the latest traffic updates, motorists can refer to the Danish Roads Directorate's live map and the Øresundsbron website. The Øresundsbron website also provides information about the bridge status.
Sund & Bælt is also measuring the load-bearing capacity of the asphalt to ensure it can withstand traffic. They are working to determine the tolerances of the road following the water damage. No new information about the reopening time or traffic conditions on the affected side has been provided at this time.
Danish broadcaster DR was provided statements about the issue by Sund & Bælt. The company is committed to reopening the road as quickly and safely as possible, ensuring minimal disruption to traffic between Sweden and Denmark.
