A new, approximately 1.600 - metre - long cable stayed bridge is planned to span Kaštela Bay connecting Split and its peninsula with Kaštela to to transform and revolutionize the city's transport links toward Trogir and Split Airport.
Commissioned by the state road authority Hrvatske ceste, the project designed by 3LHD, an architectural practice based in Zagreb focused on integrating various disciplines, such as architecture, urban planning, landscape, design and art and Pipenbaher Consulting Engineers, a Slovenian firm headquartered in Slovenska Bistrica specializes in complex bridge design, including long - span structures and challenging geotechnical conditions, has won the international competition to reshape transport connections around Split, promising a dramatic addition to the city’s coastal skyline.
The €250 million development is a winning proposal envisions a 1.600 - long stayed bridge linking the Split peninsula with the northern shore of Kaštela, creating a direct connection between the Dalmatian city, its international airport, and the wider regional highway network.
The development includes a 400 - metre central spans, allowing ships to pass freely through the bay without disrupting maritime traffic,two traffic lanes in each direction and two elegant pylons rising 157 metres above sea level support the structure, forming a distinctive new along Split’s Adriatic waterfront.
The Designers noted when presenting the project that the structure introduces a new visual identity for the bay solving one of the area’s most pressing traffic challenges and the brisge was designed not only as a piece of infrastructure but also as an architectural symbol for the region.
For decades, congestion between Split, the airport and the surrounding towns has been a persisitent problem, particularly during the busy summer tourism season. Officials believe that new crossing could significantly improve traffic flow and regional connectivity.
Key Details of the Project:
• Design and Structure: The bridge will feature two slender, 157 – metre high pylons inspired by Dalmatian limestone, forming a new, recognizable silhouette for the western approach to Split.
• Key Connectivity: It connect the Split peninsula (Stinice district) with the northern shore (Kaštel Sućurac), providing a crucial link for the Split urban area.
• Infrastructural Impact: The project is part of a larger initiative to ease congestion, connecting to the motorway through the Kozjak tunnel and providing a new, faster route to Split Airport and the ferry port.
• Additional Features: In addition to transport, the bridge will serve as a utility corridor, supporting pipes and cables for the surrounding area.
• Timeline: The project described by city officials as “unstippable” aims to secure all necessary permits within three years, with completion expected in the coming years.
This project, often referred to as the “new entrance to Split,” aims to transform the northern coastline of the bay from an industrial area, into a new, modern urban face of the city.
If constructed as planned, the bridge could become one of the most recognizable modern structures along the Croatian coast, and a contemporary counterpart to the region’s historic architecture and maritime heritage.
Link
https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/19571-video-new-bridge-across-kastela-bay-planned-to-transform-split-s-transport-links
