New bridge connects Hillerød Station and paves the way for further development of the station

The redevelopment is an extensive project involving several major infrastructure works. Excavation across the station is needed so that the tracks can be extended in both directions. Without the newly opened footbridge, passengers would at times be unable to cross the station on foot to reach the S-train services.

The footbridge is therefore an essential part of the overall solution at Hillerød Station and a necessary first step before the rest of the transformation can begin. It maintains the east–west connection and enables the planned changes to tracks and platforms. With its distinctive design, the footbridge also gives Hillerød Station a new visual landmark.

A steel-saving design with architectural value

“Conventional footbridges are generally designed as simple beam bridges. This means they resist loads through bending in the beam, which is a perfectly good solution for short spans. For somewhat longer spans, however, it is actually a very material-intensive solution,” explains Senior Specialist Lars Have, who designed the new footbridge at Hillerød Station.

As a bridge increases in size, its self-weight becomes the dominant load. For this project, it was therefore more effective to design the bridge so that its main structural elements carry loads in tension or compression. An arch bridge is the optimal solution for this, the experienced structural engineer explains. Its geometry follows the distribution of forces through the bridge, also referred to as the bending moment diagram.

“Ultimately, we chose this design because the bridge’s appearance reflects the way it carries loads – something that, in my view, creates beautiful structures,” says Lars Have.

The distinctive bridge design is therefore not simply an aesthetic choice, but an integral part of the project’s value: a technical solution that supports efficient use of materials while giving Hillerød Station a new visual landmark.

The same connection – significantly less steel

The arch bridge at Hillerød Station also demonstrates how consultancy and specialist expertise ultimately led to a different outcome from the design originally put out to tender by Banedanmark:

“During the project, we carried out calculations for the original beam/box-girder bridge concept put out to tender. Comparing the arch bridge’s self-weight with those calculations clearly shows that the self-weight and steel consumption of the bridge structure itself were approximately 30% lower. In addition, the shallow structural depth of the bridge deck meant that the flights of stairs and lift towers could also be shorter,” Lars Have explains.

Complexity calls for close multidisciplinary coordination

Alongside its distinctive bridge design, the project at Hillerød Station has required extensive multidisciplinary coordination and close collaboration with Banedanmark and contractor Swietelsky.

“The footbridge was built at a station with very limited space and numerous interdependencies that add to the complexity. Tracks, platforms, traction power, geotechnical conditions, occupational health and safety, cables and other utilities all had to work together and be taken into account. And, of course, a project like this involves many different stakeholders and interfaces between disciplines that need to be coordinated,” explains Project Director Vlatko Kuzmanoski.

The project has therefore required close multidisciplinary coordination and strong collaboration across disciplines. This has made it possible to adapt the project to actual site conditions as work progressed and bring its many technical and organisational requirements together in a single, robust solution.

NIRAS continues its work at Hillerød Station in close collaboration with Banedanmark, Swietelsky and MT Højgaard.