Copenhagen Municipality has started a six-week public consultation on whether Langebro, a bridge across the harbour, should keep opening for passing ships or be closed to them permanently. The bridge’s lifting mechanism badly needs renovation, and either option will be costly and will affect which ships can reach the southern part of the harbour.
How the consultation works
From 9 September, residents and stakeholders have six weeks to give input. An information meeting for business stakeholders takes place on 28 September from 9.00 to 10.30, and a residents’ meeting on 30 September from 17.30 to 19.00. Both are held in the hall of Kulturhuset Islands Brygge, and registration is required. On Culture Night, 9 October, visitors can explore the 70-year-old machine room and bascule cellar, with room for 20 people per tour.
Line Barfod, Mayor for Climate, Environment and Technical Affairs, said the decision has far-reaching consequences for the harbour’s future.
The costs
Last year the administration completed an exterior renovation of the bridge. The bascule leaves, the mechanism that opens and closes the bridge, now badly need renovation, at a cost of more than DKK 400 million. An analysis has shown that the bridge can be closed permanently. Renovating it as a non-opening bridge would cost more than DKK 200 million, including design work, and would affect how large ships can reach the southern harbour.
| Opening bridge | Non-opening bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Necessary works | DKK 400–417 million | DKK 150–200 million |
| Related concurrent works | DKK 44 million | approx. DKK 37 million |
| Construction period | 3 years, within 2029–2034 | approx. 1.5 years |
Whichever option is chosen, about DKK 115 million will be needed in the mid-2030s for ordinary maintenance.
Traffic and next steps
The bridge opens about 100 times a year, mainly for commercial tour boats, but also for contractors bringing in equipment, private sailing ships and houseboats. Traffic between Langebro and Sjællandsbroen consists mostly of smaller vessels, such as kayaks and harbour buses, that can pass under a closed Langebro. By & Havn registered more than 16,000 boats passing Langebro in July 2023.
The question is expected to be included in the negotiations on the budget carry-over case in spring 2027. Regardless of the outcome, the administration will stop taking bookings for bridge openings from mid-2028 because of the poor condition of the bascule leaves.