Perhaps you’ve paused mid-journey and wondered about this impressive structure. This is the Tranebergsbron. It’s also known as the Traneberg Bridge. It is a double arch bridge in central Stockholm. It connects Kungsholmen island with Bromma. The bridge carries both road and metro traffic.
King Gustav III wanted a road to Drottningholm Palace. The first bridge here was a floating bridge. It finished in 1787. Funds granted when he was named crown prince paid for it.
Maintenance was neglected. By the 1850s, a rebuild was needed. The new floating bridge was moved southwards. It reached into the valley on the western shore.
The western suburbs grew in the early 20th century. Cars, trucks, and trams needed a better bridge. From 1911 to 1914, a pontoon bridge was built. It was next to the old bridge. It had concrete abutments and steel rafts. The bridge was 227 metres long and 6.3 metres wide. It had a 37 metres long swing span. This allowed ships to pass. It soon became too small. It was widened to 8.5 metres in 1921–22. The old floating bridge closed.
The western suburbs continued to grow. In 1931, the City Council decided to build a new bridge. It would be a double concrete arch bridge. For a year, it was the largest in the world. It was 100 metres north of the existing bridge. It opened in 1934. The bridge was 580 metres long and 27.4 metres wide. Beam viaducts flanked the main arch. The spans were 13 metres. The main double arch was 181 metres wide. A vertical clearance of 26 metres was chosen. A sea port was planned north of the bridge. The bridge had sections for road traffic and tramway. In the early 1950s, the tramway became Tunnelrail.
Paul Hedqvist designed the 1934 bridge.
By the end of the 20th century, the roadway was in bad condition. Heavy vehicles were banned for a long time. A third arch bridge was built south of the old ones. It opened in 2002. The two original bridges were rebuilt. Crown Princess Victoria opened the entire structure on August 31, 2005.
The Tranebergsbron stands as a testament. It represents Stockholm’s growth and innovation. It connects not just places, but also eras.