Prof. Torgeir Moan and the Record Breaking Fjord Crossings in Norway

Abstract

Technology and competence from offshore structures, which were developed to serve in the harsh environment of the North Sea, have played a major role in developing technology for extreme fjord crossings in Norway. The Høgsfjord Project, and later the E39 Fjord Crossings Project, have taken advantage of the existing competence and experience from offshore structures. To a great extent, it has been a question of adapting offshore technology and combining it with advanced bridge technology to new types of structures. These new bridges are in many respects very different from offshore structures, mainly due to their length, slenderness, long resonance periods and complex dynamic behavior. Professor Torgeir Moan has been heavily involved in the technology development for the fjord crossings. First, in the Høgsfjord submerged floating tunnel project, and now in the Fjord Crossings project with the bold aim of making the E39 Coastal Highway along the west-coast of Norway free of ferries. He has always showed genuine interest in the challenges, and have always been willing to help identifying and solving the problems. His contribution has been vital to the outcome of the work.