Myllysilta Explained

Bridge Name:Myllysilta
Official Name:Myllysilta
Carries:4 lanes of roadway
1 sidewalk
Crosses:Aurajoki
Locale:Turku
Design:Steel girder bridge
Length:93m (305feet)
Width:20.5m (67.3feet)
Below:3.6m (11.8feet)
Open:19 September 2011
Coordinates:60.4452°N 22.2579°W
Bridge Name:Myllysilta 1975–2010
Official Name:Myllysilta
Carries:3 lanes of roadway
2 sidewalks
Crosses:Aurajoki
Locale:Turku
Design:prestressed concrete box girder bridge
Length:92.7m (304.1feet)
Width:20m (70feet)
Below:3.6m (11.8feet)
Open:1975
Closed:March 6, 2010
Coordinates:60.4452°N 22.2579°W

The Myllysilta (Mill Bridge) (Swedish: Kvarnbron) is a steel girder bridge crossing the Aurajoki (Aura River) in the middle of the city of Turku in Finland. The bridge was opened on 19 September 2011. Only two of four lanes were first in use, the bridge was totally completed on 29 November 2011, even though some landscaping and stone work were completed in 2012. The bridge connects Turku's IV district to the VII district, and has four westbound lanes, and a sidewalk on northern side. It is a one-way-route from east to west, while the nearby Martinsilta bridge goes west to east.

The bridge from 1975 to 2010

The former bridge, a prestressed concrete box girder bridge, was built in 1975 and was 92.7m (304.1feet) long and 20m (70feet) wide, with three lanes (one-way westbound), and a sidewalk on both sides. Myllysilta was demolished in 2010 after a structural failure.[1]

Failure

On 6 March 2010 the bridge was closed due to structural failures of both piers.[2] [3] [4] The City of Turku originally reported that the bridge would remain closed for up to a year for repairs. It was later decided to demolish it and build a new bridge. In the meantime, Martinsilta functioned as a two-way bridge with two lanes designated for regular travel and one for Myllysilta's diverted traffic.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.hs.fi/english/article/-/1135257132984 Demolition of sagging Myllysilta Bridge begins in Turku
  2. News: Turun Myllysilta suljettu vakavien vaurioiden vuoksi . Turun Sanomat . 6 March 2010 . Finnish . 6 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717044402/http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/116157.html . 17 July 2011 . dead .
  3. News: Turun Myllysilta painunut jo lähes metrin . . 6 March 2010. Finnish.
  4. News: The Myllysilta Bridge to be Demolished and Replaced . . 20 March 2010 . 20 August 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716095837/http://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=159304&nodeid=23 . 16 July 2011 .