Looped Trail around Skodje Bridges

Skodje Bridges (Skodjebruene) are three road bridges in Skodje municipality, Møre og Romsdal county. The two old bridges were earlier part of National Road 661 over the Skodjestraumen. The Skodjestraumen Bridge crosses the Straumen (Storstraumen), which is a stream that flows between the mainland in the north and the island of Storholmen. The Heggestraumen Bridge crosses the Heggestraumen, a stream that flows between the islands of Storholmen and Kasholmen. These two bridges were replaced by the Straum Bridge (Straumsbrua) in 2004.The Skodjestraumen Bridge has a span of 57 metres and a maximum clearance to the sea of 14 metres. The Heggestraumen Bridge has a span of 40 metres. Both are masonry arch bridges. The Skodjestraumen Bridge is the largest masonry arch bridge in Norway. The construction of the bridges started in 1911 and ended in 1919. However, the road was first opened only in 1922. The 100-meter long Skodjestraumen Tunnel is part of the complex. It was the first road tunnel in the county. The two old bridges, the pedestrian/bicycle lane along the new bridge and the tunnel can now be used as a looped hiking trail through this beautiful cultural landscape.

The trail is quite self-explanatory when you first see the area. A designated viewing point is located on the north side of the stream near the new bridge. You can climb up to the viewing point using both the stairs and the path with solid surface. The viewing point offers a beautiful view towards the west, south and east. The looped trail can either start from the car park in the north or from south of the tunnel. If you start from the north, you can first walk over the new bridge. On Kasholmen, you will come to the entrance of the tunnel on the south side of the island. Walk through the 100-metre-long tunnel, and you will reach the Heggestraumen Bridge. Once you walk over that bridge, you will find yourself on the island of Storholmen. From there, walk over the Skodjestraumen Bridge to reach the mainland in the north. Follow the solid road as it takes you back to the car park and the viewing point.Note: the most challenging section of the looped trail is the junction between the pathway and the motor road on the north side of the car park. You should follow the motor road for 20–30 m before crossing it down to the car park.

There is a car park in the northern part of the new Straum Bridge (Straumsbrua). Latitude: 62.50467526280101 Longitude: 6.621086597442627