Luleå appoints new contractor as Malmporten infrastructure project restarts

The Port of Luleå officials have revealed that they have appointed a new contractor to expand operations at the site as part of an alliance with several stakeholders in the Swedish nation. Sweden relies heavily on the Port of Luleå as a main freight hub and has big plans to bring in more types of goods to the port as demand in Europe grows. Taking into account the ambitions that the port has in handling new goods, a serious expansion project has been awarded to the GRK company.

The expansion of the Port of Luleå has been divided into four phases

For any project that will have the financial implications that this has, major construction projects are required to meet the goals set by officials. And the project in Sweden will be constructed in four phases, ensuring a considered approach and preventing any mistakes from rushing the project.

Logistically speaking, Luleå is the most important port in handling sea freight in Sweden, and the expansion will allow it to handle new types of goods in the future, further strengthening the stability of the region.

GRK has outlined the four phases that the design and implementation process will follow, which include:

• concrete structures
• groundworks
• paving technology
• municipal technology

As is the case for these types of projects, the project is divided into the development and implementation phases. Each individual project will take roughly one month to complete.  GRK is involved in all of the diverse infrastructure construction tasks of the Port of Luleå project, and they outlined their experience and history in the sector on their website.

“GRK designs, repairs and builds roads, highways, tracks and bridges in order to make everyday life run smoothly, promote people meeting each other and to create a more sustainable future. GRK’s expertise also includes environmental technology. We operate in Finland, Sweden and Estonia with approximately 1,100 professionals. GRK’s core competencies include the execution of versatile infrastructure construction projects, project management of both small and large projects as well as extensive rail expertise. GRK provides services from design to construction and maintenance.” GRK website

The upgrades to the Port of Luleå will bring much-needed improvements to the local infrastructure

GRK has stated that the project will see the construction of a new loading dock of approximately 400 metres, as well as the construction of new and temporary roads in the region. Additionally, GRK will also handle the asphalting and paving of the port area.

The municipal technology project will include several improvements in key areas that need attention at the port, including:

• Construction of new electricity and water pipelines
• The installation of optical fibre
• The implementation of a stormwater system in the port

GRK has stated that the port will operate normally during the construction phase. Several other nations have approved similar expansions to their transportation hubs, which could allow for a more cooperative relationship between countries.

“This is a very interesting and diverse project in northern Sweden. During the construction work, the port will continue to operate normally. In Finland, large projects are mainly carried out using the alliance model, but this is our third “samverkan” project in Sweden, and its value and scope will be specified during the developmentphase. We can see that the model is becoming more common in Sweden, and we want to be involved in such projects going forward,” – CEO Mika Mäenpää.

The world’s ports need a renewed sense of urgency to improve their capabilities of handling cargo

The world is getting smaller by the day. The digital revolution brought us closer together while fostering cooperative relationships between nations. The inevitable effect of that is that the ports and railway networks of the world need massive expansion projects that are safe and ensure future employment for the local populace. The Port of Luleå is crucial to the Swedish nation in achieving the goal of bringing new financial benefits to the region. GRK has welcomed the approval from the government.