The Kruunuvuorensilta bridge spans 3,900 feet and is 442 feet high, making it the longest and tallest bridge in Finland. The unique thing about the bridge is that it’s not open to cars. Designed solely for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, the bridge is taller than Finland’s highest residential building, the 439-foot-high Kalasatama Tower, and significantly higher than the 236-foot-high Olympic Stadium. The bridge reflects Helsinki’s long-term vision of prioritizing public transportation, walking and cycling in urban mobility. Already today, the majority of journeys in Helsinki are made using sustainable modes: around 41% on foot, 25% by public transportation and 11% by bike, while only about 20% are made by car. Daily usage is projected to include 3,750 daily cycling trips across the bridge. The bridge is equipped with a wind warning system that alerts users to winds strong enough to disrupt traffic. Ice accumulation is reduced by enclosing the cables in textured plastic sheaths that cause the ice to break off into fine particles.
