Kyrkbron, Concrete bridge in Umeå, Sweden
Kyrkbron carries Östra Kyrkogatan over the Ume River to Teg on the south bank. It consists of two parallel concrete box girders on vertical straight supports, forming two separate bridges, each with its own lane and ramps extending over the river on the north side.
A bridge at Östra Kyrkogatan was proposed as early as 1936 by engineer O. H. Grahnén, but the county board instead chose the site of Tegsbron, opened in 1949. The parish council objected in 1965 to traffic noise near Umeå City Church, yet the city council kept the church location. Construction ran from 1973 to the opening on 26 September 1975, Umeå's third bridge over the Ume River.
The bridge takes its name from Umeå City Church, which stands by its northern abutment on Östra Kyrkogatan. The parish council long opposed this placement, fearing traffic noise would disturb services and damage the church surroundings. The city council nonetheless chose the church site in 1965, and the bridge opened in 1975.
The bridge is open to traffic daily and accommodates both vehicles and bicycles with separate lanes for each. The clearance underneath allows for river traffic and the structure is accessible to all types of transport.
During construction in the 1970s, an unknown burial ground was found — an older part of the churchyard by Umeå City Church — which led to archaeological excavations before work could go on. The bridge was designed for an expected surge in car traffic that never came.
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