Winning solution selected for new bridge over Kaštela Bay

Who won the tender for the new bridge over the Kaštela Bay?

The winning solution was created by an architectural studio 3LHD and a Slovenian company Pipenbacher EngineersLong bridge 1600 meters will connect Split and Kastela, with high pylons 157 meters It will become a new recognizable sight entering the city.

The winning solution of the international competition for the design of the new bridge over Kaštela Bay, a project of exceptional strategic and traffic importance for the wider Split area, was designed by the architectural studio 3LHD and Slovenian designers from the company Pipenbaher Inženirji.

The decision was made by an expert jury as part of a tender announced by Croatian Roads through public procurement.

New sea gate and a recognizable view of the city

Bridge length 1600 meters will connect Kaštela and the Split peninsula and become a new key transport link to Trogir, the airport and the highway - the new lifeblood of Split.

The bridge concept with two slender pylons and a main span of 400 meters clearly defines the navigation axis and forms a recognizable "sea gate" of the future international seaport. The architectural identity is defined by the 157-meter-high pylons, inspired by the crystalline structure of Dalmatian limestone. The pylons rise from the sea and connect above the pavement structure, forming a recognizable structural element of the bridge and one of the tallest building elements in Croatia.

The project enables a significant share of local production: the steel sections of the bridge could be manufactured in the Split shipyard, and the concrete elements from production facilities in Kaštela, thus reducing transport emissions and stimulating regional industry.

Innovative "trim track" above the sea and resistance to strong winds

In addition to four traffic lanes, the bridge is also designed as a public space above the bay.

The pedestrian and bicycle paths are elevated below road level, protecting users from noise and traffic. The path is designed as a recreational "trim path" above the sea with four viewpoints that provide panoramic views of the city and the bay and can serve as gathering places during regattas, sporting events and fan celebrations.

He talks about the architectural concept of the project Marko Dabrovic from the studio 3LHD:

"We viewed the bridge as a new spatial axis and a powerful generator of development for the northern part of Split and Kaštela. It is infrastructure that also becomes a new public space. Its identity is shaped by elegant pylons as new city gates, while a sunken promenade with viewpoints transforms this engineering feat into Split's new living room and fitness trail above the sea." he pointed out  Marko Dabrovic from the studio 3LHD.

About the project's structural solution Marjan Pippenbacher from the company Pipenbacher Engineers points out: "Structurally, this is an extremely demanding and innovative project. Slender pylons and a slanted structure allow for the bridging of a 400-meter main span, with a very refined and elegant silhouette of the bridge. Special attention was paid to ensuring the seismic resistance of the structure and the aerodynamic stability of the bridge in conditions of strong and gusty high-speed winds."

After selecting the winning solution, the design phase and obtaining the necessary permits before construction begins. The architectural team of the 3LHD studio and the Pipenbaher Inženirji company will next, in cooperation with Croatian Roads, develop a conceptual design based on which the procedure for obtaining a location permit will be initiated. This will be followed by the development of the main design and obtaining a building permit, and only then will a tender be issued for the contractor. Once these procedures are completed, construction of the bridge can begin, which usually takes several years for an infrastructure project of this size.

Photo: 3LDH