Bällstabro

Cycling over Bällstabro, did you ever imagine this bridge as a battleground for urban planning? Bällstabro isn’t just a bridge. It’s a vital link between Stockholm and Sundbyberg, a key piece of Stockholm’s primary cycle route, and part of a regional cycling network. Look around. The smooth cycle paths you’re on weren’t always here. Cyclists once navigated precariously among cars, sometimes even venturing onto pedestrian walkways. This created a dangerous situation. Stockholm and Sundbyberg collaborated to improve safety and encourage cycling. They constructed these dedicated cycle lanes on both sides of Bällstabro. The project also improved connections to existing cycle infrastructure at both ends of the bridge. Bällstabro always had four lanes for motor vehicles, including buses. The Tvärbanan light rail also crosses here, holding priority at traffic signals. Studies showed removing car lanes would cause significant traffic jams. So, preserving all four lanes during the cycle path construction was crucial. This was achieved by narrowing both the car lanes and the pedestrian walkways slightly. The intersections at either end of Bällstabro, where it meets Hamngatan and Karlsbodavägen, also received upgrades during this project. The old lighting was replaced with cables strung across the road. This new lighting enhances safety and visually connects Stockholm and Sundbyberg. Even the bridge’s railing got a fresh coat of paint. Bällstabro and its surrounding areas are constantly evolving. New construction and increased density in Mariehäll, Annedal, and Ulvsunda in Stockholm, as well as central Sundbyberg, are transforming the landscape. With more projects planned and a growing population, ensuring safe and efficient movement for pedestrians and cyclists, like yourselves on Bällstabro today, is more important than ever. The project was approved in November 2020 and began in June 2021. Despite material delivery delays, it was completed in the fall of 2022.