Repair work on Lapinsalmi Bridge in Repovesi National Park, Kouvola, expected to extend into next year

Repair work on the Lapinsalmi Bridge in Repovesi National Park, Kouvola, is expected to extend into next year. The bridge has been closed since January due to safety concerns during strong winds, as it lacks wind bracing cables. Tero Mustonen from Metsähallitus stated that plans for the bridge’s repairs are still in progress. Additionally, the budget constraints for this year will not accommodate all necessary repairs since the need arose mid-year.

The bridge requires more than just the addition of wind bracing cables; it will undergo a more extensive renovation. Both the bridge and its fixings will need reinforcement to bear the loads from the new cables. The plans may still be refined as an external engineering firm is currently reviewing them. Mustonen noted that the cost of adding wind bracing may exceed the original construction cost of the bridge, which was under €300,000, completed in fall 2019 to replace a former suspension bridge that collapsed in summer 2018.

Repairing the Lapinsalmi Bridge will also necessitate a building permit from Kouvola’s building supervision. In September, it was established that part of the permit application must include external engineering assessments. While typically standard for significant construction work, no such assessment was required when the original bridge was built. Building inspector Esa Inkilä stated this decision was made after identifying planning and execution deficiencies in the current structure. As fall is not the busiest season for building supervision, the permit could be granted approximately one month after required documents are assembled.