Langebro Bridge in Copenhagen is set for a significant and costly renovation following a recent review that revealed the bridge’s closing mechanism is in worse condition than initially believed. The City of Copenhagen began a major renovation project on the bridge in 2020. This bridge connects central parts of the city and serves nearly 50,000 motor vehicles daily. The initial expectation was that the work on the heavily trafficked bridge would be much less expensive and more manageable.

The first phase of the renovation, which included efforts to stop water infiltration into the bridge’s structure, originally cost 42.9 million Danish kroner (approximately 6.1 million USD). However, a new report has disclosed that the counterweights, which are essential for the bridge’s balance and its ability to open and close, are significantly more worn than first assumed. Henriette Hall-Andersen, the area manager of the Technical and Environmental Administration, has expressed concern over the condition of the weights, as they cannot withstand further deterioration without the possibility of repair.

This new information means that the second phase of the renovation is now expected to cost 258 million Danish kroner (approximately 36.5 million USD) and needs to be completed by 2025. Preliminary analyses and design work, which are already projected to cost around 38 million Danish kroner (approximately 5.3 million USD), will soon commence. The main renovation is projected to start in 2027 and will cost between 315 and 415 million Danish kroner (approximately 44.5 to 59 million USD), bringing the total estimated expense of the project to about 700 million Danish kroner (approximately 100 million USD).

Despite the high costs, it is estimated that constructing an entirely new bridge would be even more expensive, with an estimated price tag of around 1.5 billion Danish kroner (approximately 215 million USD). In addition to the costs, the area manager has also suggested that environmental considerations and potential traffic disruptions argue against building a completely new bridge.

For Copenhagen residents who rely on Langebro for their daily transportation, it is crucial that the bridge remains operational. Any failure of the drawbridge mechanisms could have serious repercussions for the city’s infrastructure, which is already under pressure. The municipality will therefore continue with the necessary renovations to ensure that the bridge can fulfill its functions safely and efficiently in the future.