The Strömsund Bridge in Jämtland is designed to handle heavy transports of up to 74 tons for normal traffic, but the transformer on the truck's bed weighed more than that, according to the Swedish Transport Administration.
"As we have received, the transformer will weigh 100 tons," says Daniel Mossberg, press secretary at the Swedish Transport Administration, to TT.
The transport, which was on its way to Mo i Rana in Norway, however, had an exemption to drive over the bridge, the Swedish Transport Administration told Östersunds-Posten.
The police have opened an investigation into the incident for suspected work environment violations and causing danger to others. However, no one has yet been charged. The vehicle remains on the bridge and will be weighed by the police only when it is on safe ground.
The bridge will be closed for an extended period of time due to the damage and traffic will be diverted from the E45. The Swedish Transport Administration has tentatively stated that it could take a month before the bridge is reopened to traffic.
But it could take longer, it could also take shorter, says Daniel Mossberg.
The alarm about the damage to the bridge came at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The driver of the heavy transport was able to leave his vehicle and get off the bridge.
The 332-meter-long, 70-year-old Strömsund Bridge has been upgraded in several stages over the past five years, including to improve its ability to carry heavy transport.
