Sweco acknowledges design flaws in Lapinsalmi Bridge in Repovesi National Park, Finland

The engineering firm Sweco, responsible for designing the Lapinsalmi Bridge in Repovesi National Park, has acknowledged that the wind load on the bridge was initially underestimated. Since January, the bridge has been closed to the public due to safety concerns in strong winds, necessitating the addition of stabilizing wind cables.

According to Metsähallitus, the organization overseeing Finland’s national parks, the evaluation of wind loads was insufficient during the design phase, which was conducted by Sweco. The construction details, including connections, were designed by the Estonian construction company Remoti Holding. Antti Jussila, Sweco’s head of infrastructure and structural business, confirmed that the wind’s impact should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, something they attempted for the Lapinsalmi Bridge. However, Jussila admitted that the assessment of the wind load turned out to be too low.

Further complicating matters, measurements taken by Sweco in the spring revealed that the location of the bridge’s Lapinsalmi side deviated slightly from its original design specifications—by several meters. This discrepancy was unexpected and required updates to the repair plans. Jussila stated that while the location will be addressed in the repair process, it will not affect the integrity of the bridge.

Metsähallitus is currently awaiting approval from local authorities for the repair plans, which may extend the bridge’s reopening until next year. New deficiencies have also come to light, elongating the planning and repair timeline. Tero Mustonen from Metsähallitus speculated that the bridge’s site may have been altered during construction without proper documentation, a point that Jussila confirmed responsibility for lies with the builder.