The pedestrian and cycling bridge, connecting Slovenia and Austria across the River Mura in Ceršak, was officially opened on Saturday, 27. September. The new wooden suspension footbridge is now the main link over the bordering Mura River, along the international cyclist’s path between the border crossing Šentilj/Spielfeld and the bridge in Črnci near Gornja Radgona. With breathtaking views of the Mura River, the new bridge is set to become one of the highlights of this cycling route and an ideal place to stop and relax.The bridge was opened by Štefan Žvab, mayor of municipality Šentilj (Slovenia), Johann Lappi, mayor of municipality Straß (Austria), the two representatives of the contracting authorities, accompanied by Aleksander Jevšek, Slovenian minister of cohesion and regional development, Joachim Schnabel, member of Austrian national council, Mojca Muršec, head of the joint secretariat Interreg Slovenia-Austria, and Boris Sapač, board member of Pomgrad, project's contractor. Hundreds of people gathered at the opening ceremony, being among the first to walk or cycle over the bridge.
The bridge consists of two parallel 87.6-meter long glulam timber girders, suspended with high-strength FLC-cables, via steel frames and tension-rods. The FLC bearing cables are attached at the tips of the V-shaped concrete pylons at the abutments, on either side of the Mura River. The wooden bearing structure is structurally weather-protected with wooden panels (larch, Accoya), anti-insect nets and stainless-steel lids. The deck is also wooden, made of cross-laid grooved Accoya boards.
The total length of the bridge, approach ramps included, is approximately 98 meters, the clear structural span amounts 86.0 meters, span of the bearing cables 90.6 meters. The clear width of the bridge is 3.5 m, and the total width 4.60 m.
The official opening took place less than a month after the spectacular installation of the Ceršak Bridge superstructure. The installation was carried out in a single move, with a 650-ton crane, without temporary supports in the riverbed, directly onto the suspended cables.
The works were carried out by the companies Pomgrad, Teufelberger-Redaelli, BS VAR, Šušteršič, Up2Plan and Knuplež. Ponting Bridges designed the footbridge, and, due to complexity of the project, also provided site and construction supervision.
The project was co-financed from the Slovenia-Austria Interreg program.
Project details:
Footbridge Ceršak
