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A Liebherr 630 EC-H 40 Litronic tower crane has completed a central role in constructing the 135 metre pylon of Helsinki’s Kruunuvuori Bridge, one of Northern Europe’s most technically demanding infrastructure projects.
The crane operated on the project between winter 2022 and 2025, carrying out lifting operations tied to the bridge’s diamond shaped reinforced concrete pylon. The cable stayed structure forms the centrepiece of Helsinki’s wider Kruunusillat, or Crown Bridges, urban transport programme.
Crane configuration tailored for 135 metre pylon work
The Liebherr unit handled lifting duties that included positioning formwork sections, reinforcement cages, concrete delivery systems and structural components at increasing elevations throughout the build. According to project details, the crane offered a maximum lifting capacity of 40 tonnes and a jib radius reaching 80 metres.
On projects like this, the crane effectively becomes part of the structure itself. Without reliable vertical lifting, work at height slows quickly, especially when weather windows narrow during Nordic winters.
The crane selection was influenced partly by the fact that the machine was already part of contractor TYL Kruunusillat’s fleet. The company said long term operational trust in Liebherr equipment played a role in deployment decisions on such a complex infrastructure programme.
Baltic Sea conditions tested lifting operations
The Kruunuvuori Bridge site exposed the crane to some of the harshest operating conditions seen on major European bridge projects. Located across an open section of the Baltic Sea, the site offered little natural shelter from wind or winter weather.
Temperatures regularly dropped below freezing during extended winter periods, increasing operational pressure on both mechanical and electrical systems. Wind loading became a major engineering consideration as the tower configuration rose alongside the 135 metre pylon.
Could a standard crane configuration have handled the same conditions? Project engineers suggested the answer was no.
Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions supported structural planning
Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions worked with the project team from an early stage to calculate the required tower configuration, including anchor tie in positions and adjustments linked to construction progress.
One TCS team member said the combination of “complex guying geometry” and repeated modifications to hook heights required extensive structural engineering input throughout the project.
The bridge itself spans around 1.2 kilometres across Helsinki’s Kruunuvuorenselkä bay, linking Laajasalo, Korkeasaari and Kalasatama with the city centre. It has been designed with a 200 year service life, placing it among the Nordic region’s most demanding long term infrastructure investments.
When the bridge opens to tram traffic in late 2026, it is expected to become Finland’s longest bridge and the country’s tallest bridge structure. The crossing is designed exclusively for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, with no private vehicle traffic planned.
