Ramfjord Bridge - Crossing an Arctic fjord on RR1200/20 LDP piles
May 20, 2025
5 min read
Case details
Country
Norway
Company
Fundamentering AS
Industry
Building structures and infrastructure
Ramfjord Bridge is located in Troms County in Northern Norway, 600 km north of the Arctic Circle. This is a vital infrastructure project in the area that will connect the southern part of the region to the city of Tromsø. With a population of around 42,000 Tromsø is the biggest city north of the Arctic Circle in the Nordics The region has a total population of around 79,000 and growing tourism provides over 3 million travel days per year. The Northern Lights, whale safari, skiing and breathtaking scenery are popular attractions.
The E8 – Laukslett to Sørbotn project includes an 865 metres long bridge forming the main access to the city and creating a faster, much safer travel route and also much better living conditions for people living near the existing road. The budget is approx. NOK 3.5bn with deadline July 2026. Besides the Ramfjord Bridge, the project also includes the construction of a new 10 km road and 8 smaller bridges and crossings further along the fjord.
Photo 2) The project seen from Laukslett to Sørbotn, north to south with the Ramfjord Bridge crossing nearest in the photo. (From SVV online illustration sketch of the project).
Construction of the bridge has been a technical challenge, especially due to the complex ground conditions in the area. Piling work was carried out by Fundamentering AS, a long-standing, important customer for SSAB pile products. The lead contractor for the entire project was Bertelsen & Garpestad AS and Metrostav Norge AS, while the pile foundation was designed by the project owner Norwegian Public roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) and overseen by Norconsult. Very large diameter piles were needed to ensure bridge integrity in the event of a ship collision and also to be able to withstand the heavy wind and ice loads that gave the dimensional ULS (Ultimate Limit State) loads.
Geologically, this area is heavily influenced by glacial processes and deposits. The fjord itself has very varying ground conditions consisting of silty-sand and over-consolidated clay with moraine at the base. There is also a quick clay zone on shore of the Laukslett side, where the bridge starts. The safety of this zone was made secure by filling. The fjord is 35 m at its deepest and there are sediments of up to 30 m.
We are very happy with SSAB’s pile products. After 60 checks of splice welds we located zero mistakes. That makes us proud.
Photo 3) Offshore ramming of a pile group with a Junttan PMx22 pile driving rig with 8, 10 and 16 tonne hammers from a raft. The pile groups were planned to be rammed into the rock and stop in the sediments. Pile analyses were used to confirm capacity PDA/ CAPWAP-analysis.
Fundamentering AS had 2 pile rigs and 2 drilling rigs working on the project. Ramming of the RR1200/20 piles occurred offshore in 5 pile groups. One group was drilled from land on the south side of the fjord. The drilling rigs were also responsible for the foundations of a second bridge in Sørbotn.
SSAB delivered a total of 2,800 tonnes of steel piles ranging in length from 6 to 18 metres to Fundamentering AS. This was SSAB’s biggest delivery to Norway that year. The biggest lot by far was the 18-metre lengths. All transport of lengths 15 metres and above is treated as a special delivery and requires extra measures, which can create issues along northern valleys and fjords. A total of 125 trucks arrived from Oulainen in Finland as “just in time” deliveries, which makes logistics easier and more flexible. This is one of SSAB’s strong points compared to peers and can make large storage space unnecessary.
Welding regimes were subject to 100% NTD (non-destructive-testing) on the rock shoe to pile weld. Splice welding was subject to 10% NTD . On site the piles were moved stepwise from station to station to carry out rock shoe fastening and splice welding of the elements. The longest starting piles were 59 metres, which were rolled into the sea and towed to the rigs on the rafts. SSAB tolerance requirements for large diameter piles makes them very suitable for projects where welding is needed. They are particularly suitable where challenging welding regimes are required and in locations using an offshore drilling rig on a raft in the middle of a windy fjord far north in the Arctic.
Photo 4) Offshore installation of pile groups. This requires extra care and follow-up, and can be very sensitive to wind and weather conditions and result in challenging welding regimes.
Photo 5) Piles of up to 59 metres were stored on a steel frame before being rolled into the sea. The device to the left ensured rotation when welding and also flipped the piles over onto the steel frame when finished.