Copenhagen Airport Station is currently undergoing an expansion with new platforms and tracks for both freight trains and the many daily train passengers travelling to and from the airport.
As part of the project, the station will also receive a new pedestrian bridge connecting it to Terminal 3 of the airport. To lift the pedestrian bridge into place, Sund & Bælt's contractor Per Aarselff A/S has brought in a massive mobile crawler crane equipped with a specialised boom. This allows the crane to operate in very confined spaces, lifting the 216-ton pedestrian bridge into the station in two large sections at heights exceeding 60 metres.
The crane is so large that it must be delivered in multiple parts and assembled on-site. The transportation of the crane's components began last week, requiring a total of 39 trucks. The crane is equipped with tracks, allowing it to move short distances. However, weighing over 850 tons, special precautions must be taken for both safety and the motorway infrastructure. A thick layer of gravel is first laid as a base, followed by large steel plates to ensure the asphalt underneath can bear the weight. The crane is then assembled piece by piece until it is ready for operation.
Reduction of Lanes on the Motorway
To make room for the massive crane and ensure safety for both motorists and workers, it is necessary to close two lanes of the Øresund Motorway over a 1,500-metre stretch near the airport from Monday, 20 October, until the end of November.
“To complete the task as safely and quickly as possible, we unfortunately need to close part of the motorway for up to five weeks, reducing traffic to two lanes. We are very aware that our work will inconvenience traffic around the airport, so we are working as quickly as we can,” says Preben Vejlgaard, Construction Manager at Sund & Bælt.
Preparations for the crane's arrival will begin early on the morning of Monday, 20 October, when the lane closures on the Øresund Motorway will also take effect. In the following weeks, the crane will be assembled, after which it will lift the new pedestrian bridge into place in two large sections. Once the lift is complete, the crawler crane will be disassembled and transported away on the 39 trucks. Two smaller and more mobile cranes will then be brought in to lift the bridge's stairs and the large components for the station's elevators. Finally, the motorway will be cleared of materials and reopened in all four lanes.
“The lifting tasks themselves only take a few days. It’s the preparations for the large crane, the assembly of the smaller cranes, and the subsequent road cleanup that take time,” explains Preben Vejlgaard.
Traffic Impact on the Øresund Motorway near the Airport
- Both lanes heading towards Sweden will be closed, and traffic will be managed in a single lane in each direction over a 1,500-metre stretch near Copenhagen Airport. This may cause delays, particularly during morning and afternoon rush hours.
- Exit <16> Airport East/Kastrup will be closed. Note: This is the last exit in Denmark.
- Drivers heading to the airport can still use Exit <17> Airport West or one of the earlier exits along the route.
- Other motorists not travelling to the airport are encouraged to use Exit <18> Tårnby or <19> Ørestad.
Work Schedule
- Week 43: Traffic reconfiguration on the Øresund Motorway, preparation, and assembly of the mobile crawler crane.
- Week 44: Lifting of the new pedestrian bridge. Mobile crawler crane disassembled.
- Week 45: Smaller crane assembled. Lifting of stairs and escalators. Crane disassembled.
- Week 46: New crane assembled. Lifting of materials and steel for the elevator. Crane disassembled.
- Week 47: Cleanup of the motorway work area. Traffic restored to normal.
About the Expansion of Copenhagen Airport Station
The Øresund Line is currently heavily trafficked, and capacity on the route is under pressure. Increased train traffic is also expected on the Øresund Line when the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens. Sund & Bælt is therefore expanding Copenhagen Airport Station to accommodate even more trains. The expansion includes the construction of two new platforms, improvements to the existing platforms, and the establishment of a connection from the new platforms to Terminal 3 of the airport.
Graphic showing where work is being carried out during the period and which exits are closed.
