The Kruunuvuori Bridge, is one of the most technically demanding infrastructure projects in Northern Europe. To erect the structure's defining element, a 135-metre reinforced concrete pylon, a Liebherr 630 EC-H 40 Litronic tower crane was deployed, which performed all pylon-related lifting operations from winter 2022 through to the completion of structural work in 2025.
A tall crane for a tall bridge
The crane handled positioning formwork sections, lifting reinforcement cages, concrete delivery equipment, and handling structural components required at the various elevation levels. With a maximum lifting capacity of 40,000 kg and a maximum jib radius of 80 metres, the crane offered the performance envelope needed to service the pylon structure throughout its construction height. The hook height achievable in standard configuration reaches 80 metres, with extended configurations available for greater heights, a critical factor given that the pylon ultimately rises to 135 metres above sea level.
The decision to deploy a Liebherr 630 EC-H 40 Litronic was largely influenced by the fact that the crane was already part of the construction company’s own fleet, a testament to the long-standing trust that TYL Kruunusillat places in Liebherr crane technology. In projects of this complexity, crane reliability is non-negotiable.
The EC-H series is engineered for exactly this kind of demanding environment. Its high-performance hoist units, the crane is equipped with multiple drives ensuring both operational precision and safety.
Technical configuration and collaboration with Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions
The configuration of the 630 EC-H 40 Litronic on the Kruunuvuori Bridge site required more than standard setup planning. The Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions (TCS) team was involved from an early stage to calculate the appropriate tower configuration for the project's unusual height requirements and anchor tie-in positions. “Both the complex guying geometry and the regular adjustments to the guying and hook heights, driven by the progress of the construction works, required a high level of structural engineering expertise. By fully utilising the available structural capacity, we were able to apply our know-how to deliver a safe and efficient solution,” says one of the TCS team members.
This level of technical partnership is a core component of the Liebherr service offering for complex construction projects.
A project this big comes with challenges and solutions
Commissioned by the City of Helsinki and designed by WSP Finland and Knight Architects, the cable-stayed bridge spans approximately 1.2 kilometres across Kruunuvuorenselkä bay, connecting the districts of Laajasalo, Korkeasaari and Kalasatama to Hakaniemi in the city centre. The bridge has been designed with a required service life of 200 years, a specification that places it among the most demanding infrastructure programmes in the Nordic region.
The Kruunuvuori Bridge site presented a set of environmental and logistical challenges that few European infrastructure projects can match. The bridge crosses an open stretch of the Baltic Sea in the outer harbour of Helsinki, a location with no sheltering topography and full exposure to wind from multiple directions. Under Nordic winter conditions, ambient temperatures routinely fall well below zero degrees Celsius for extended periods, placing significant operational demands on the mechanical and electrical systems of a tower crane configured to its maximum height.
Wind loading at the tall tower configurations required for pylon work was a particularly critical factor. At the heights involved, with the crane mast tied into a pylon structure that itself rises 135 metres, both the static and dynamic wind forces acting on the crane assembly had to be carefully assessed. The combination of wind exposure and the height-related challenges of the tower configuration made accurate TCS configuration work essential to the safety and operational continuity of the crane throughout the construction phase. The crane's robust mechanical design and the reliability of the Litronic control system proved their value throughout multiple Nordic winters on this exposed maritime site.
Significance of the project
When the Kruunuvuori Bridge opens to tram traffic in late 2026, it will stand as Finland's longest bridge at approximately 1.2 kilometres and the tallest bridge structure in the country. It will also rank among the longest bridges in the world dedicated exclusively to public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, with no provision for private car traffic. The bridge anchors a broader urban development programme that will add over 20,000 new residents to the Laajasalo area and deliver a sustainable, year-round public transport connection to the heart of Helsinki. Designed to remain in service for 200 years, the
Kruunuvuori Bridge reflects Helsinki's long-term commitment to sustainable infrastructure investment and the Liebherr 630 EC-H 40 Litronic played a central role in making its most complex structural element a reality.
