# Frederik IX Bridge

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Bridge in Denmark

King Frederik IX Bridge Kong Frederik IX's Bro Frederik IX Bridge Coordinates 54°45′32″N 11°51′58″E / 54.75889°N 11.86611°E / 54.75889; 11.86611 Carries Danish national road 9 Sydbanen Lollandsbanen Crosses The Guldborgsund strait Locale Region Sjælland, Denmark Begins Nykøbing, Falster Ends Sundby, Lolland Named for King Frederik IX of Denmark Owner The Danish Road Directorate Maintained by The Danish Road Directorate Website www.vejdirektoratet.dk/kong-frederik-den-ixs-bro Characteristics Design Beam bascule bridge Total length 295 metres (968 ft) Width 33 metres (108 ft) Height opens Rail characteristics No. of tracks 1 Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) History Construction start 1960 Construction end 1962 Inaugurated 14 May 1963 Location Interactive map of King Frederik IX Bridge

The **King Frederik IX bridge** ([Danish](/source/Danish_language): *Kong Frederik den 9's Bro*; named for [King Frederik IX of Denmark](/source/Frederik_IX_of_Denmark)) is a combined [road](/source/Road_bridge) and [railway bridge](/source/Railway_bridge) carrying the [Danish national road 9](/source/Danish_national_road_9) as well as [Sydbanen](/source/Sydbanen) and [Lollandsbanen](/source/Lollandsbanen) [railway lines](/source/Railway_line) across the [Guldborgsund](/source/Guldborgsund) strait between the islands of [Falster](/source/Falster) and [Lolland](/source/Lolland) in [Denmark](/source/Denmark). It joins the larger part of the city of [Nykøbing](/source/Nyk%C3%B8bing_Falster) on Falster with the smaller part of the town on Lolland. The rail link is a part of the railway section of the [Fugleflugtslinjen](/source/Fugleflugtslinjen) [transport corridor](/source/Transport_corridor) between [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen), [Denmark](/source/Denmark) and [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), [Germany](/source/Germany).

The bridge is 295 metres (968 ft) and 33.3 metres (109 ft) wide. It is a [bascule bridge](/source/Bascule_bridge) of [beam design](/source/Beam_bridge). The bridge carries four lanes of vehicle traffic and a single railway track.

## History

In 1867, after many years of discussion, a [pontoon bridge](/source/Pontoon_bridge), the [Christian IX Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_IX_Bridge&action=edit&redlink=1), was constructed across the [Guldborgsund](/source/Guldborgsund) from [Nykøbing](/source/Nyk%C3%B8bing_Falster) to [Lolland](/source/Lolland), which at its inauguration was the longest in Denmark.[1] Furthermore, in [1875](/source/1875) a separate [railway bridge](/source/Railway_bridge) was constructed to allow for the [railway lines](/source/Railway_line) on [Lolland](/source/Lolland) to reach Nykøbing.[1] Both bridges were [swing bridges](/source/Swing_bridge) which could be opened for passing ships.[1] These two bridges existed – with several reconstructions – until 1963.

The current Frederik IX Bridge was constructed between 1960 and 1962. The official opening was on 14 May 1963.

## Current construction

There is a decision to widen the bridge with one more rail track and to fit electric overhead line, in connection with the [Fehmarn Belt Tunnel](/source/Fehmarn_Belt_Tunnel). In order to cut costs, a tunnel company wanted to disallow bridge openings.[2] However, it was later decided that the new bridge will also open.[3]

In 2023, the construction was slated to complete in 2026.[3]

## Features

Rail and road bascules in raised position

The bridge has a central 20m span with two [bascules](/source/Bascule_bridge), both on the eastern side of the bridge. One carries four lanes of vehicle traffic while the other carries a rail link. The two parts normally operate together. Bridge control is staffed during the day and opened on request for passing ships, but may only be opened once every half-hour. It is planned for the bridge to be re-equipped for automatic operation.

Chamber into which the bascule counterweights sink when raised, showing drive racks

The bascules consist of a long bridge span and a short counterweight section. Each bascule is supported by two pivot bearings, one either side. Two motors, one either side of the bridge, turn shafts passing through the centre of the pivot bearings. Further shafts take power to the rear of the counterweights, where there are pinions pressing against a rack mounted in the wall of the counterweight chamber, which drive the bascule.

Underside of raised bascules, showing tipped up railings and yellow driveshaft

Underside of bascules, showing bearings about which bascules rotate, and yellow drive shaft

Bascules falling

## See also

- [Danish national road 9](/source/Danish_national_road_9)

- [Lollandsbanen](/source/Lollandsbanen)

- [Sydbanen](/source/Sydbanen)

- [Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link](/source/Fehmarn_Belt_Fixed_Link)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENørregård1977157-163_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENørregård1977157-163_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENørregård1977157-163_1-2) [Nørregård 1977](#CITEREFNørregård1977), p. 157-163.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Vil lukke broklappen over Guldborgsund - sejlere frygter omvej på over 90 kilometer](https://www.tv2east.dk/guldborgsund/vil-lukke-broklappen-over-guldborgsund-sejlere-frygter-omvej-paa-over-90-kilometer)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-åbenByggeplads_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-åbenByggeplads_3-1) ["600 lokale kom bag hegnet til storstilet brobyggeri"](https://www.tv2east.dk/guldborgsund/600-lokale-kom-bag-hegnet-til-storstilet-brobyggeri) (in Danish). TV2 Øst.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

## External links

- [Bridge data](http://www.trafikken.dk/wimpdoc.asp?page=document&objno=17178)

- [Frederik den IX's Bro](https://structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=20005932) at *[Structurae](/source/Structurae)*

- [History of the bridge (in danish)](https://web.archive.org/web/20060628045046/http://www.highways.dk/danmark/broer/nykobingbro.php)

## Bibliography

- Nørregård, Georg (1977). *Nykøbing Falster gennem tiderne* (in Danish). Vol. 1–2. Nykøbing Falster: Nykøbing Falster Kommune. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [87-98-06-35-0-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/87-98-06-35-0-2).

v t e Falster, Denmark Towns and villages Aastrup Eskilstrup Gedser Guldborg Hasselø Plantage Horbelev Idestrup Marielyst Nordbyen Nørre Alslev Nykøbing Falster Nykøbing Strandhuse Orehoved Ønslev Øster Kippinge Sønder Vedby Skovhuse Stubbekøbing Systofte Skovby Tingsted Torkilstrup Væggerløse Localities Hesnæs Kraghave Virket Culture and attractions Czarens Hus (Nykøbing's city museum) Danmarks Traktormuseum Falster Crocodile Zoo Guldborgsund Zoo Middelaldercentret Churches Aastrup Church Abbey Church, Nykøbing Brarup Church Eskilstrup Church Gedser Church Nørre Alslev Church Stubbekøbing Church Tingsted Church Torkilstrup Church Væggerløse Church Manor houses Corselitze Gammel Kirstineberg Gjedsergaard Orupgaard Valnæsgård Vennerslund Other landmarks Bøtø Nor Pumping Station Ejegod Windmill Generalens Lysthus Gåbense Færgegård Karleby Rectory Nykøbing Latin School Orehoved Lighthouse Torkilstrup Windmill Torkilstrup Rectory Geography Corselitze Forest Gedser Odde Grønsund Guldborgsund Kalvø Storstrømmen History 1872 Baltic Sea flood Falsters Virke Jørgen Ringnis Mecklenburg Ancestral Table Nykøbing Castle Siege of Nykøbing Johan Frederik Classen Transport E47 Farø Bridges Frederick IX Bridge Gedser Station Guldborgsund Bridge Nykøbing Falster railway station Scandlines South Line Storstrøm Bridge Other Diocese of Lolland–Falster Guldborgsund Municipality Det Classenske Fideicommis

v t e Lolland, Denmark Towns and villages Bandholm Birket Branderslev Dannemare Guldborg Holeby Horslunde Hunseby Kettinge Maribo Nagelsti Nakskov Nørreballe Nysted Øster Ulslev Rødby Rødbyhavn Sakskøbing Sandby Søllested Stokkemarke Sundby Toreby Localities Albuen Culture and attractions Fuglsang Art Museum Fuglsang Cultural Centre Knuthenborg Safaripark Lalandia Maribo Open-Air Museum Middelaldercentret Reventlow Museum Stiftsmuseum Maribo Churches Arninge Church Avnede Church Bandholm Church Birket Church Dannemare Church Errindlev Church Frederiksdal Fuglse Church Gloslunde Church Halsted Church Horslunde Church Hunseby Church Købelev Church Maribo Cathedral Nakskov Church Olstrup Church Østofte Church Sandby Church Sakskøbing Church Stokkemarke Church Tågerup Church Tillitse Church Toreby Church Manor houses Aalholm Berritzgaard Bramsløkke Christianssæde Engestofte Fredholm Halsted Priory Højbygård Knuthenborg Knuthenlund Krenkerup Lungholm Orebygaard Pederstrup Rudbjerggaard Sæbyholm Søholt Søllestedgård Vindeholme Other landmarks Gloslunde Rectory Kattinge Windmill Kong Svends Høj Nakskov Old Pharmacy Oreby Mølle Reventlow Asylum Reventlow Warehouse Geography Guldborgsund Maribo Lakes Nature Reserve Nakskov Fjord History 1872 Baltic Sea flood Maribo Abbey Nysted Friary Transport Danish national road 9 E47 Fehmarn Belt fixed link Frederick IX Bridge Guldborgsund Bridge Lolland Falster Airport Scandlines South Line Other Diocese of Lolland–Falster Guldborgsund Municipality Lolland Municipality

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Frederik IX Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederik_IX_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederik_IX_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.