View source for Krk Bridge

{{distinguish|Krka Bridge}}
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name=Krk Bridge
|image=Brug krk.jpg
|caption=
|native_name=Krčki most
|native_name_lang=hr
|carries=Road vehicles
|crosses=Krk Channel, [[Adriatic Sea]]
|locale=[[Primorje-Gorski Kotar County]], [[Croatia]]
|other_name=[[Josip Broz Tito|Tito]]'s Bridge
|maint=[[Hrvatske autoceste]]
|id=
|design=concrete [[arch bridge]]
|mainspan={{Convert|390|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ({{Convert|416|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} underwater)
|length={{Convert|1430|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|width={{Convert|11.40|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|clearance=
|below={{Convert|67.02|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, smaller bow {{Convert|54.56|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|builder=[[Mostogradnja]]<br />[[Hidroelektra]]{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=440}}
|begin=1976{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=439}}
|complete=1980{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=439}}
|cost=$50 million USD<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.abece.com.br/web/restrito/restrito/Pdf/CH150.pdf | title = Case study: LCC analysis for Krk Bridge | author1 = I. Stipanović Oslaković | publisher = Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia | date = 2008 | access-date = 3 August 2014 }}</ref>
|open=19 July 1980{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=432}}
|closed=
|traffic=
|toll=None (since 15 June 2020)<ref name=endtoll>{{cite news|title=Naplata pred Krčkim mostom od sutra definitivno odlazi u povijest, evo što sve trebate znati o tome|date=2020-06-14|url=https://www.novilist.hr/rijeka-regija/otoci/naplata-pred-krckim-mostom-od-sutra-definitivno-odlazi-u-povijest-evo-sto-sve-trebate-znati-o-tome/?meta_refresh=true|language=hr|work=[[Novi list]]}}</ref>
|map_cue=
|map_image=
|map_text=
|map_width=
|coordinates= {{coord|45|14|40|N|14|34|00|E|region:HR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Krk Bridge''' ({{langx|hr|Krčki most}}) is a {{Convert|1430|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long [[reinforced concrete]] [[arch bridge]] connecting the [[Croatia]]n island of [[Krk]] to the mainland. Carrying over a million vehicles per year, it was the last tolled bridge in Croatia that was not part of a motorway until the removal of tolls in 2020. The longer of the bridge's two arches is the [[List of longest arch bridge spans|third-longest concrete arch in the world]] and the longest outside of China, and among the longest arches of any construction. The bridge was completed and opened in July 1980 and originally named '''Tito's Bridge''' ({{langx|hr|Titov most}}) in honor of [[President of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav president]] [[Josip Broz Tito]], who [[Death and state funeral of Josip Broz Tito|had died two months earlier]].{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=436}} The bridge has since been renamed Krk Bridge or {{Lang|hr|Krčki most}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.krkcroatia.net/krk-bridge/|title=KRK Bridge stopped the time in the Gulf Voz}}</ref> The bridge was tolled since its opening until the removal of tolls on 15 June 2020. However, passage had been toll free for Krk residents since 1999 and vehicles owned by Krk businesses since the 2000s. When the tolls were removed, passenger cars were being charged 35 kuna, southbound only.<ref name=endtoll />

Prior to 1 January 2021, maintenance was undertaken by [[Autocesta Rijeka – Zagreb|Autocesta Rijeka - Zagreb d.d.]] Due to the acquirement of ARZ by [[Hrvatske autoceste|Hrvatske autoceste d.o.o.]] on that date, the bridge is now maintained by HAC.

==Construction==
The bridge was designed by [[Ilija Stojadinović]] in cooperation with [[Vukan Njagulj]] and [[Bojan Možina]], and built by [[Mostogradnja|Mostogradnja Belgrade]] and [[Hidroelektra Zagreb]] between 1976 and 1980. It was designed as a [[cantilever bridge]] with  temporary cable-stays. Structurally, the bridge consists of two reinforced concrete arch spans, which rest on the islet of Sveti Marko between Krk and the mainland. The length of the longer arch is {{Convert|390|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (actually {{Convert|416|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, a part of the bow is in the water), which made it the longest concrete arch at the time of construction, the distinction it held until it was surpassed by [[Wanxian Bridge]] ({{Convert|425|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} length of arch) in 1997.{{sfn|Simović|2000|p=432}}

==Traffic==
Krk Bridge connects the island's 19,916 inhabitants (as of 2021) and its tourist resorts to [[Jadranska magistrala]], the main road along the [[Adriatic]] coast. It also connects the city of [[Rijeka]] to [[Rijeka Airport]], which is situated on Krk. In the first 20 years of its existence, the bridge was crossed by 27&nbsp;million vehicles, more than double of ferry traffic to and from the island. Krk Bridge only carries one lane of traffic in each direction, and the increasing levels of traffic warrant a larger replacement bridge which is currently in planning stages.
{{Wide image|Krk_Bridge_Tihi_Kanal.jpg|960px|Krk Bridge and its surroundings}}

==Replacement==
Although the strong winds of the [[Bora_(wind)|bora]] often close the bridge to certain groups of vehicles during the year, sometimes to all traffic, recent research indicates that the wind is not the greatest threat to the bridge, but rather salt. 

Because of this, but also because of the expansion of the port terminals on Krk, and because of the increasing traffic on the bridge, in recent years, the construction of a new bridge and the closure of the existing one have been considered. The new bridge would not be built on the site of the current one, but a kilometer south in the area where the island of Krk, or more precisely its Lanterna peninsula, is closest to the mainland - only about 600 meters away. The new Krk Bridge would have 4 traffic lanes, which would carry the highway to behind Malinska, and a railway line that would lead to the future container terminal near Omišalj.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Tihana Tomičić |title=Novi krčki most imat će dva kata, njime će prolaziti auti i vlakovi. Donosimo sve detalje megaprojekta |url=https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/novi-krcki-most-imat-ce-dva-kata-njime-ce-prolaziti-auti-i-vlakovi-donosimo-sve-detalje-megaprojekta/ |website=Novi List |access-date=January 3, 2024 |language=HR}}</ref>

A replacement bridge is planned for opening after 2029.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plans for new dual-use Krk Island bridge unveiled |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/plans-for-new-dual-use-krk-island-bridge-unveiled/ |website=croatiaweek |access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=New Krk bridge coming |url=https://www.sea-help.eu/en/news-general/croatia-new-krk-bridge-2029/ |website=Seahelp News}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of arch bridges by length]]
*[[List of bridges by length]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/20029|title=Dvadeseta obljetnica mosta kopno – otok Krk|trans-title=Twentieth anniversary of the Krk – mainland bridge|language=Croatian|journal=Građevinar|format=PDF|last=Simović|first=Veselin|volume=52|issue=8|year=2000|pages=431–442|access-date=21 January 2020}}

==External links==
* {{Structurae|id=20000139|title=Krk Bridges}}

[[Category:Deck arch bridges]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1980]]
[[Category:Concrete bridges]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures on Krk]]
[[Category:Cross-sea bridges in Croatia]]
[[Category:Transport in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County]]
[[Category:Yugoslav Croatian architecture]]