Two of the largest expansion joints on the Denmark–Sweden crossing will be replaced from August 31 until the end of October 2026, leaving only one lane open in each direction over a 1.5-km section
The Øresund Bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden will undergo a major replacement of two of its largest expansion joints in autumn 2026. The work will restrict road capacity for approximately eight weeks, while rail services will continue operating normally.
According to the official Øresund Bridge announcement, the main maintenance programme will begin on August 31 and is expected to continue until the end of October. Traffic will be affected as early as August 29–30, when temporary barriers are installed and the work zones are prepared.
Only one lane in each direction will remain open over a section of approximately 1.5 kilometres. A reduced speed limit will also apply through the construction area.
The work will affect only the road section of the crossing. Trains between Copenhagen and Malmö will continue to operate according to their normal schedules.
The main feature of the project is the simultaneous replacement of two expansion joints located on opposite sides of the high bridge.
Each structure is almost 25 metres long and weighs approximately 32 tonnes. The joints extend across the full width of the roadway and will therefore be removed and installed in separate sections. This approach will allow the bridge to remain open throughout the maintenance period.
The first of eight major expansion joints was replaced in 2025. Seven old structures then remained, with two scheduled for replacement in autumn 2026.
Operating two work zones at the same time will have a greater short-term impact on road capacity, but it will shorten the overall replacement programme by approximately one year.
“By replacing two joints at the same time, we can shorten the total project duration by a full year. This means that traffic will be affected more during a limited period, but we will not have to repeat the disruption as many times. We have applied the lessons learned last year to carry out the work even more efficiently,” Øresund Bridge Project Manager Milan Sarac said.
Expansion joints allow the bridge to move when temperatures and traffic loads change. Without them, the thermal expansion of steel and concrete would create excessive stress within the structure.
The joints are continuously exposed to heavy vehicles, precipitation, strong winds, marine air and seasonal temperature changes. Their components gradually wear out and eventually require full replacement.
The new structures are intended to maintain the safety and reliability of the crossing for years to come. However, their location on the high bridge makes this year’s project more complex than the work completed in 2025.
Contractors must account for strong winds, changing weather conditions, restricted access and the need to respond quickly to any incident. An unplanned stoppage could rapidly create congestion on one of Scandinavia’s most important transport links.
To avoid closing the bridge completely, each joint replacement will be divided into two phases.
During the first phase, the normal traffic lanes in both directions will be closed and vehicles will be diverted onto the emergency lanes. Once the first part of the work is complete, traffic will move back to one normal lane.
The remaining lanes and emergency areas will be used for construction equipment, materials and personnel.
Unlike the 2025 project, two separate work zones will operate simultaneously. Temporary barriers will divide the sites, while traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction over approximately 1.5 kilometres.
“The work will have a greater impact on traffic than last year, but replacing two joints simultaneously will allow us to complete the maintenance much faster. This is the solution that creates the least disruption for customers over the entire project period,” said Jopas Wulff, Head of the Øresund Bridge Traffic Centre.
As Tidningen Proffs reports, drivers are advised to use both available lanes up to the narrowing point and then merge alternately. The operator expects this zip-merging system to reduce premature queue formation.
The most significant restrictions will apply to oversized and heavy transport. From August 31 until the maintenance work is completed, the bridge will be unavailable to:
- vehicles wider than 3.75 metres;
- heavy vehicles and combinations weighing more than 100 tonnes.
Standard trucks will still be allowed to cross, but the reduction in available lanes could lower average speeds and cause queues.
The operator has not announced additional restrictions on the normal permitted weight or length of trucks. Most commercial vehicles will therefore be able to continue using the bridge if they comply with the temporary traffic layout.
Carriers operating oversized loads will need to select an alternative route, postpone the journey or arrange delivery after the work has been completed.
The Øresund Bridge is a central road and rail connection between Denmark and Sweden. It links the Copenhagen region with Malmö and provides Swedish carriers with access to the Danish road network and routes towards continental Europe.
Restrictions on the crossing may therefore affect more than bilateral freight movements. Cargo travelling between Sweden, Denmark, Germany and other EU countries regularly uses the bridge.
Even with one lane remaining open in each direction, reduced capacity could extend delivery times. Conditions are likely to be most difficult during the morning and evening peaks, when freight traffic coincides with passenger vehicles and cross-border commuters.
Additional delays could follow an accident, vehicle breakdown or temporary suspension of construction work. With only one operational lane, passing an obstruction will be considerably more difficult.
Transport companies are advised to account for the maintenance programme when preparing schedules for September and October. Extra time may be needed both for crossing the bridge and approaching it.
The operator recommends avoiding travel towards Denmark between 07:00 and 09:00 and towards Sweden between 16:00 and 18:00 whenever possible. These periods are expected to carry the heaviest traffic.
Carriers should notify customers about potential delays, revise delivery slots and verify that their vehicles do not exceed the temporary width or weight limits.
Route planning will also be complicated by other European infrastructure restrictions during the same period. As K2Cargo.News previously reported, the Mont Blanc Tunnel will close for 41 nights between September and December 2026.
Simultaneous maintenance programmes at important crossings require international carriers to calculate journey times more carefully and check alternative routes before departure.
Possible queues must be considered when calculating permitted driving time. If a truck reaches the crossing near the end of a driver’s shift, the driver may need to find a legal rest area before entering the bridge.
Stops on both the Danish and Swedish sides should therefore be planned in advance. Reduced capacity may produce uneven traffic conditions, with periods of relatively free movement followed by rapidly growing queues.
Further complications may arise on days when national restrictions on heavy vehicle movements are in force. K2Cargo.News has published a calendar of European truck bans for September 2026 to help carriers plan international routes.
Companies should also include contingency time for strong winds, accidents or changes to the temporary traffic arrangement.
The maintenance work will not affect the railway tracks on the lower level of the crossing. Passenger and freight trains will continue operating normally.
This will preserve a rail alternative for some cargo moving between Denmark and Sweden. However, transferring significant volumes from road to rail at short notice may be difficult because operators must reserve terminal capacity, rolling stock and train slots in advance.
For intermodal operators, the uninterrupted railway connection reduces the risk of a complete disruption to supply chains through the Øresund region.
The bridge operator will publish current information about congestion, temporary restrictions and schedule changes on its website and in the Øresundsbron mobile application.
Drivers are advised to maintain a greater following distance, comply with temporary speed limits and use both lanes until reaching the designated merging point.
The main restrictions are expected to end by late October, although the final schedule will depend on weather conditions and progress on the high bridge.
Replacing two joints at the same time will create more visible disruption for approximately eight weeks but reduce the number of future maintenance periods. Advance planning will be essential for freight operators: standard trucks will remain permitted, while oversized and exceptionally heavy combinations will need an alternative route.
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