l33g0's video: Walking across Old G ta lvbron Bridge Demolished in 2022 Gothenburg G teborg West Sweden

I had a nice walk over the old Götaälvbron bridge in Gothenburg (Göteborg), West Sweden (video 2019). I was admiring the historic Göta Älv riverview and a steady flow of Gothenburg’s retro blue and white trams crossing the bridge. I was in good company. Götaälvbron (Göta älv Bridge) was a bascule bridge in central Gothenburg, carrying normal road vehicles and trams. The bridge was constructed in 1937 to 1939 and in 1966 it was widened. It was closed for decommissioning in June 2021. Constructed of steel beam, the bridge had a total length of 927 m (3,041 ft) and width of 20 m (66 ft). The mid span had a free height of 19.5 m (64 ft). The Götaälvbron bridge connected the island of Hisingen with the main land of Gothenburg between Nils Ericssongatan and Hjalmar Brantningsgatan on Hisingen. The bridge crossed the river just east of Lilla Bommen on the mainland side and just east of Freeport on the Hisingen side. The Götaälvbron bridge was replaced by the Hisingsbron bridge, approximately one block east. The existing Götaälvbron bridge could not be demolished until the new one had been built, because Hisingen would then has lost its only tram link with the mainland. The demolition of the Götaälvbron bridge began during the summer of 2021 and continued until 2022. The Götaälvbron bridge is now completely demolished and replaced by the Hisingsbron bridge.  Hisingsbron (Hisingen Bridge) is a vertical-lift bridge connecting the island of Hisingen to the mainland and the center of Gothenburg. The bridge was constructed between 2017 and 2021, replacing the Götaälvbro bridge. The river island of Hisingen is the fifth largest island of Sweden. The Hisingen island was mostly farmland until the 19th century, when industrialization began and companies like Arendalsvarvet, Eriksberg, Götaverken and Lindholmen started operating there. For most of the 20th century, until the shipyard crisis in the 1970s, the island was the focus for Swedish shipbuilding. The Frihamnen (the free-port) area at Hisingen, just across the Göta älv river from the Gothenburg city center, is characterized by the old ship building industry and port operations. Frihamnen was officially opened in 1922. Frihamnen comprises three piers – Södra Frihamnspiren (Banana pier), Norra Frihamnspiren and Kvillepiren. Frihamnen (Freeport) acquired its name as in the past it was possible to bring goods ashore 'free', which meant that it was not necessary to pay customs duty and VAT before the importer finally took the goods out through the gates. The oldest parts of the Frihamnen harbor date from the 1920s although many sheds and warehouses are much newer. Bananas were unloaded there for many years and after that it was graced exclusively by cruise ships until 2017. Älvstaden, a new residential district, is being built in this area. Jubileumsparken (Jubilee Park) in Frihamnen is the result of the Gothenburg citizens' wishes for green areas, a meeting place for all, and getting closer to the Götä Älv river Jubileumsparken offers the public paths, which is a pool in the river along Kvillepiren. The public sauna in Jubileumsparken is a spectacular and temporary building made of recycled material. The sauna was built in 2014 by citizens of Gothenburg together with architects from Raumblabor Berlin. In 2024, a new sauna will replace the temporary building. The Volvo car manufacturer has its roots on Hisingen; it was there that their first factory was located and the first car, the Volvo ÖV 4, was produced in 1927. Today, the company still has its main office and production facilities on the island. The Volvo Museum is also located nearby. Over the last 20 years, the northern bank of Göta Älv has undergone major expansion. Residential areas, university buildings and high tech industry have largely replaced the shipyards. The red and white Lilla Bommen building is named after the surrounding location of Lilla Bommen, is an 86 m (282 ft), 22-floor building housing office, networking and restaurant spaces in Gothenburg, Sweden. The building’s distinct post-modern architectural style, popularly referred to as Läppstiftet (The Lipstick) due to its distinctive red-and-white colour schematic, was erected on the banks of Göta River in 1989. Gothenburgs retro-looking blue and white trams are an iconic part of the city. Trams in Gothenburg have run since 1879. Göteborgs Spårvägar operates the entire tram system in Gothenburg, and some of the bus lines. Västtrafik is responsible for public transport in Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland region.