Raftsundet Bridge

Located more than 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, the Raftsundet Bridge provides a vital roadway connection between the Lofoten Archipelago and Norway’s mainland highway system.

The bridge is a continuous post-tensioned, cast-in-place box section concrete structure supported by three towers of slender rectangular twin columns. The four spans measure 86, 202, 298, and 125 meters respectively, with the central 224 meters of the 298-meter main span constructed using high performance structural lightweight concrete.

Extensive testing confirmed that Stalite rotary kiln expanded slate lightweight aggregate could be successfully pumped, overcoming the absorption challenges typically associated with expanded clay or shale aggregates. The hardened lightweight concrete achieved a density of approximately 125 pcf with a 28-day compressive strength of 8,700 psi.

This project demonstrates the structural efficiency, constructability, and high-strength performance advantages of Stalite Lightweight Aggregate in long-span bridge construction, even in extreme northern climates.