Flytter Sveriges vakreste kirke

The Kiruna Kirke Relocation Project involves moving the historic Kiruna Church, a significant wooden building constructed in 1912 and regarded as Sweden's most beautiful church, from its original location in Kiruna, a mining town in northern Sweden. The relocation is necessary due to unstable ground conditions caused by extensive mining activities by the company LKAB, which threaten the structural stability and preservation of the church. This monumental project aims to safeguard the church's cultural, architectural, and historical value, ensuring its continued use and status as a tourist attraction in the region.

600 tonn flyttet over 5 km

The project includes moving the entire 40 by 40 meter church, which weighs 600 tons, along with additional structural beams and materials, amounting to a total transported weight of approximately 1250 tons. To facilitate this complex relocation, a five-kilometer-long and 24-meter-wide road is being constructed to enable the church's transportation to a new, safer site unaffected by mining activities. The move is scheduled for August 19th to 20th, following two decades of careful planning to ensure the preservation of the church throughout the process.

Veidekke hovedentreprenør med trinnpris

Veidekke, a major construction and civil engineering company with roughly 1,500 employees in Sweden, is the primary contractor responsible for the intricate relocation work. The company is engaged in a collaborative contract with LKAB, allowing for stepwise pricing of various project elements to manage the difficulty and cost uncertainties inherent in such a complex undertaking. Beyond the Kiruna Kirke relocation, Veidekke is also contracted to relocate 12 additional cultural buildings and perform foundational work for new infrastructure including roads, water, and sewage systems in Kiruna’s new city center, further supporting community redevelopment.

Bevarer kulturarv og identitet

The project represents a significant commitment to preserving Kiruna’s cultural heritage amid the challenges posed by ongoing mining activity. By relocating the church and other historic structures, the initiative protects irreplaceable architectural landmarks and maintains Kiruna’s identity as a northern mining town with rich historical significance. This preservation effort will also benefit local society by sustaining tourism and communal gathering spaces tied to these heritage sites.

Risiko og bærekraft håndteres

Given the complexities of moving such a large and delicate wooden structure, the project carries inherent risks related to structural integrity during transport and the accuracy of the engineering solutions deployed. The phased contracting approach and extensive preparatory work, including road construction and careful planning, are designed to mitigate these risks. The environmental impact of the project focuses on sustainable development of new infrastructure while preserving historical buildings, aligning with long-term urban renewal in Kiruna.