New railway bridge in Kuopio, Finland, to undergo repairs after concrete surface defects discovered

A newly opened railway bridge in Kuopio, Finland, will require repairs after numerous holes were discovered in its concrete surface. According to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, this bridge is believed to be the heaviest movable bridge in Finland.

The Maaherrankadun underpass, part of a larger redevelopment project for the Kuopio rail yard, was opened for road traffic last Friday. Shortly thereafter, multiple irregular holes were identified in the bridge’s underside concrete. Aki Hämäläinen, the project manager from the agency, acknowledged that such holes can occasionally occur in large concrete cast structures but insisted that this was not due to poor construction quality. Repairing the bridge is included in the contractor’s work plan.

Traffic beneath the bridge will continue as usual for the time being, with reassurances that no concrete will fall. However, the underpass features dozens of varying-sized holes, some exposing the steel reinforcements within. Debris including cigarette butts and what appears to be a plastic bag were also found on the concrete’s surface.

The bridge was constructed adjacent to the old bridge and then moved into position, weighing approximately 3,500 tons. According to project engineer Mari Piira, the holes were noticed immediately after the new deck was positioned. She confirmed that the bridge must be repaired and will not be left unattended. Anfra Oy, the subcontractor responsible for the concrete work, will address this issue in the upcoming fall, aiming to complete repairs during periods of minimal traffic.