Norrbro

The Norrbro ( Swedish for North Bridge ) is a bridge in Stockholm, which connects the districts of Gamla stan and Norrmalm. The bridge was designed by Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz and Erik Palmstedt and inaugurated in 1807. It is thus one of the oldest surviving bridges of Stockholm. After two years of construction, repair and renovation work, the Norrbro was reopened on 23 January 2010 by Crown Princess Victoria.

History

In the 13th century a bridge under the name Stockholms norra bro (Stockholms northern bridge ) over the waters between Gamla stan and the northern area of the city is mentioned. 1654 should create an axis from the Stockholm Royal Palace to the north, a bridge project. 1781 put Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz his plan for the Norrbro, which was adopted after processing by Erik Palmstedt. Construction began in 1787 and twenty years later the bridge was inaugurated.

The building consists of three bridges. The northern part is an arch bridge with three arches, the center consists of a planar structure and the southern part is in turn an arch bridge with a bow shock. The Norrbro is 19 meters wide and 190 meters long. The visible parts are covered with granite.

The Norrbro was until well into the 1930s, the north-south main thoroughfare in Stockholm and had with its central location also always a function as a fairground and street parade. Here in 1853 Stockholms first gas lights were installed and here you later experimented with the first electric street lighting.

About the Norrbro leads has always been the guard parade on their march to the castle and foreign heads of state pass the bridge traditionally in open carriages to visit the Swedish king. Even funeral lead over the Norrbro, such as the state funeral of Olof Palme.

Renovation

After more than 200 years without major repairs, the bridge showed signs of aging and severe damage that had been caused mainly by yielding foundations. The bridge threatened to collapse and heavy traffic was prohibited. In the Stockholm Mittelaltermusem (Stockholms medeltidsmuseum ), which is located under the middle part of the bridge, penetrated rain water and bricks fell down.

In 2007, the City of Stockholm decided an extensive renovation program in which virtually the entire bridge was demolished and rebuilt. On 23 January 2010, the Norrbro was consecrated again by Victoria of Sweden. They put the finishing granite stone in the walkway and thus continued the long history of the bridge, at the King Gustav III. had laid the foundation stone.

Swell

• Stockholm gatunamn, Kommittén promote Stockholmsforskning, 1992, Stockholm, ISBN 91-7031-042-4
• Information board on site