Kalvebakken bridges

Kalvebakken bridges (Norwegian: Kalvebakken bruer) are a group of three bridges in the municipality of Tromsø, northern Norway, stacked one above another over the same watercourse. Each comes from a different era, which makes the spot a modest but rewarding stop for anyone curious about road history and engineering.

What are the Kalvebakken bridges?

They are three crossings built decades apart, standing in a single ravine at different levels of the terrain. Together they show how bridge-building technology and the demands placed on the road changed in this part of Norway. From one place you can compare three answers to the same problem: how to carry a road across a stream.

The oldest bridge: a stone arch from 1911

The oldest crossing is a stone arch bridge from 1911, located highest in the terrain. The bridge and its associated stretch of old road are protected as cultural heritage. It gives the place its character: a traditional masonry structure recalling a time when traffic here was far lighter and slower than today.

The 1958 bridge

Further downstream stands a bridge from 1958, built as a cantilever structure with a span of 13 metres. It took over from the old arch as part of the main road and represents another stage in Norwegian road building, when stone gave way to more modern solutions.

The 1975 bridge on the E8

The newest of the three dates from 1975 and today forms part of European route E8, which links Tromsø with the south of the region. It is 76 metres long and carries roughly 5,000 vehicles a day. In spring 2024 the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) began replacing the kerbs and railing on this bridge; the contractor was BMO Entreprenør, and a 50 km/h speed limit applied during the works. Completion was planned for 1 September 2024.

Who is this place for?

Kalvebakken is not a classic attraction with a ticket office, but a curiosity for lovers of architecture, engineering and road history. Keep it in mind if you drive the E8 south of Tromsø and are interested in traces of earlier infrastructure. The 1975 bridge is a live, busy road, so take care when looking around and never step onto the carriageway.

Frequently asked questions

How many bridges make up the Kalvebakken bridges? Three: a stone arch bridge from 1911, a cantilever bridge from 1958 and a bridge from 1975 on the E8.

Which bridge is protected? The oldest one, the 1911 stone arch bridge, is protected as cultural heritage along with its old road.

Is the 1975 bridge still used by cars? Yes, it is part of the E8 with about 5,000 vehicles per day.

How long is the current E8 bridge? It is 76 metres long.

Has the bridge been renovated? Yes, its kerbs and railing were replaced in 2024.