Built by Chinese Contractor, Norway Opens Its Second-Largest Bridge
Dou Shicong
DATE:  Dec 11 2018
/ SOURCE:  yicai
Built by Chinese Contractor, Norway Opens Its Second-Largest Bridge Built by Chinese Contractor, Norway Opens Its Second-Largest Bridge

(Yicai Global) Dec. 10 -- China's Sichuan Road and Bridge Group and its partners were responsible for building Norway's second-largest bridge, which officially opened yesterday 220 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle. 

Some 1,533 meters in length and with a free span of 1,145 meters, the Halogaland Bridge near the northern port city of Narvik is also the longest suspension bridge in the Arctic Circle. 

Sichuan Road and Bridge delivered the steel constructions and was responsible for the mounting of the bridge, which is a significant shortcut on Europe's Route E6, the main north-south road through Norway and the west coast of Sweden. In 2013, the company won out over other international bidders after forming a consortium with a Serbian construction company. The steel was made at four different mills in China.

"It's been great to see Chinese participation in this project," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters at the inauguration ceremony. "It is a very beautiful bridge that is very important for the local community."

Chinese Ambassador Wang Min, who was also present at the ceremony, said the bridge has shown the ability of Chinese companies to carry out the Belt and Road initiative. Unveiled by Beijing in 2013, the initiative is a 30- to 40-year plan to build a vast infrastructure and trade route embracing Asia, Europe and Africa.

The project "is an important result of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Norway," Wang said. "It will set an important example to further promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries."

The bridge met strict Nordic standards and employment regulations, laying a solid foundation for Chinese firms to further explore the European market, a senior company official said. Workers experienced extreme weather conditions during the bridge's construction. 

Set up in 1999, Sichuan Road and Bridge is mainly involved in the design, investment, construction and operation of transport infrastructure. Its business covers most provinces in China, as well as overseas regions including Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe.

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Keywords:   Norway,Arctic Circle,Suspension Bridge,Sichuan Road & Bridge