The Raippaluoto Bridge, a cable-stayed structure, connects the island of Raippaluoto to the mainland in Mustasaari, Finland. It’s the longest bridge in Finland, spanning 1,045 meters, with two concrete pylons rising to 82.5 meters, supported by 64 steel cables. Built in 1997 to replace the ferry connection, it sees about 2,800 vehicles daily, serving over 2,000 residents.
The bridge is a gateway to a UNESCO World Heritage area known for its unique land uplift nature and vibrant archipelago culture. An exhibition of the World Heritage site and an art gallery were opened next to the bridge in 2019, along with a popular restaurant.
The bridge’s lighting renovation was a significant project for the municipality of 20,000 residents, carried out with careful consideration of their opinions. Architecturally impressive bridge is very significant for the marketing of the area. Typically, Finns, especially those from Ostrobothnia, do not boast. The area is seen as remote, dark, and cold, yet it thrives in the global network economy. The bridge lighting project is an exception to this modesty. With the lighting, the municipality wants to show that even if they don’t say anything, they are proud.
For the municipality, it was crucial to implement the lighting project transparently and in dialogue with residents. The project was not a given, and the benefits and costs were continuously weighed. It was believed that lighting brings hope to the northern winter darkness, with only 5-6 hours of daylight per day. When Mustasaari turned 675 years old in 2023, it was a proper moment to invest in the bridge’s lighting.
On weekdays, the lighting is subdued, gradually changing from warm white to cool white from August to May. During summer, the lighting is off. The annual lighting schedule considers the bridge’s unique natural environment. The design considered also the views and nearby residents and businesses. Light pollution was prevented with precise light direction.
The municipality can highlight different events and social campaigns by changing the colours of the lighting. The municipality also offers an ecological light show instead of fireworks on New Year’s Eve and at the end of August, marking the summer season’s end. Locals gathered in large numbers for the first switch-on last August and during New Year’s celebrations. The bridge serves as a unifying factor for the area and its residents.
Municipal employees switch on pre-programmed lighting situations, while other situations are controlled automatically. The mayor has been involved in promoting the project from the beginning and has learned to control the lighting remotely.
Lighting technology includes 76 DMX-programmable RGBW-luminaires to illuminate the bridge’s concrete structures. The old lighting used 32 MWh of energy yearly, while the new lighting uses about 17 MWh. Approximately 25 static and dynamic scenarios have been programmed, with a color library of 15 tones for various lighting situations and combinations.
Bridge Design: WSP Finland Oy (SuunnitteluKortes)
Lighting Design: WSP Finland Oy
Client: Municipality of Mustasaari and South Ostrobothnia ELY Center
Design phase: 08/2022-08/2023
