Back to Homepage
The new Pärnu Bridge, built by INF Infra, has received its usage permit and is ready for the official opening celebrations.
“Everything has gone smoothly and according to plan. The bridge was completed within a short timeframe, without significantly disrupting the daily lives of residents. During the two-year construction period, we made 25 changes in collaboration with the contractor to achieve the highest possible quality, costing nearly €900,000. A dream of thirty years – a new bridge – has finally come true,” said Meelis Kukk, Deputy Mayor of Pärnu and project lead on behalf of the client.
“The Pärnu Bridge is one of the most complex engineering projects in Estonia in recent decades. It showcases innovative construction technology, where the bridge is first built onshore and then installed in its final location. This approach is environmentally friendly and allows the two riverbanks to be connected significantly faster than with traditional construction methods,” explained Robert Sinikas, CEO of INF Infra OÜ, part of the Infortar group.
Construction of the Pärnu Bridge began two years ago in summer. Piling works were completed by autumn of the same year, and construction of the bridge piers took place in the middle of the following year. The new 140-metre-long, nearly 950-tonne steel arch was placed onto river piers in August last year. The arch bridge, assembled on the riverbank, was transported onto the traffic bridge using self-propelled transporters, transferred onto barges, and floated into position over the piers, where it was carefully lowered into its final location with the help of jacks. Moving the tied-arch structure across the Pärnu River took four days, advancing centimetre by centimetre. Over the past year, work has continued on the deck slab, approach roads, and other parts of the project.
In addition to street lighting, the bridge features decorative lighting illuminating its piers, arches, and trusses. The bridge piers are adorned with cheerful animals, birds, and famous Pärnu landmarks, drawn by Nikole Matikainen and her team.
Pärnu’s third bridge now boasts the longest span in Estonia at 140 metres. This allows the navigable section of the river to be used across its full width without obstruction. Previously, the longest bridge spans in Estonia belonged to the Rannu-Jõesuu and Ihaste bridges, each with a maximum span of 90 metres. The Pärnu Bridge exceeds these by one and a half times. It is also the longest tied-arch bridge in the Baltic States and Finland.
The bridge was designed and built by engineering and construction companies INF Infra OÜ and AS EG Ehitus, both part of the investment company Infortar group. The City Government signed a €26.7 million design and construction contract with the companies.
Watch the delightful video of how the builders celebrated the completion of the bridge.
