Krk Bridge

Croatia - a country of a thousand islands with many bridges

Often referred to as the "land of a thousand islands", Croatia boasts more than 1,200 islands scattered across its stunning coastline.

Many of these islands are only accessible by ferry, but some are connected to the mainland by bridges, increasing their accessibility and attractiveness.

Among the Croatian islands connected by a bridge, the most visited is the island of Krk, which is connected to the mainland by the famous Krk Bridge.

Croatia has the second most bridges in Europe after Denmark, connecting islands to the mainland.

In addition to the Krk Bridge, other significant bridges connect Croatian islands to the mainland:

• On the island of Pag, a 301 m-long bridge was built in 1968.
• The island of Vir is connected to the mainland by a 378-m-long bridge built in 1976.
• The island of Murter has a movable bridge of only 12 m, closed twice a day to allow boats to pass through the channel.
• On the island of Čiovo near Trogir, two bridges connect the island to the mainland.
• Did you know that on the islands of Cres and Lošinj, two smaller swing bridges open to sea traffic twice a day? These are the Osor and Privlaka bridges.

Pelješac Bridge - The largest bridge in Croatia

The largest bridge in Croatia is the Pelješac Bridge, which connects southern Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia.

The Neum Corridor (about 10 km wide) separates the south of Dalmatia from the rest of Croatia.

The Pelješac Bridge, which took 15 years to construct, was completed in 2022. It is 2404 m long, 23.6 m wide, and 98 m high.

Is the largest island in Croatia - the island of Krk - actually a peninsula?

The largest Croatian island, known as the golden island of Krk, is easy and convenient to reach - the Krk Bridge connects it directly to the mainland.

The Krk Bridge has made the island of Krk almost a peninsula and allows you to travel to Krk easily at any time.

Another way to reach the island of Krk is to fly to Rijeka International Airport near Omišalj. This airport is connected to various cities in European countries and is, therefore, easily accessible for travelers from different regions.

There are also two ferry connections from Krk to the neighbouring islands in Kvarner Bay, both for cars and passengers. The ferries connect the island of Krk with the islands of Cres & Lošinj and the island of Rab.

The Krk Bridge has significantly influenced, facilitated and fundamentally changed life on the island of Krk.

Interesting Facts About Krk Bridge

A remarkable feat of engineering, the Krk Bridge took 4 years to build and opened on July 19, 1980.

With a total length of 1,450 meters, two arches (390 and 244 m long), a width of 11.40 meters (7.5 m of which is the roadway), and a height of 67 m, the bridge set a remarkable construction milestone when it was completed.

The foundations of Krk Bridge lie 18 m below the sea.

One of the bridge's most notable features is its first arch, which spans 390 meters between the mainland and the island of St. Mark.

When completed, this arch was considered the longest concrete arch in the world - a testament to the innovative engineering of the time.

Around 350 dedicated workers worked on this monumental project, which used prefabricated bridge sections built from opposite ends.

This innovative approach allowed for seamless integration as the two halves of the bridge met in the middle on the island of Sveti Marko.

The Krk Island Bridge was initially known as the Tito Bridge.

Since its inauguration in 1980 until 2000, over 27 million crossings were reported.

In summer, up to 28,000 vehicles cross the bridge in one day.

How much does the bridge to Krk cost? Currently, the Krk Bridge is toll-free.

When is the Krk Bridge closed?

Due to the strong Bora wind, the Krk Bridge is sometimes closed to specific categories of vehicles (e.g., campers or double-decker buses) or even to all traffic.

The Krk Bridge is most often closed due to strong Bora wind in February, March and January.

In such situations, the Bora vehicle is a lifesaver for the island of Krk.

It is an extremely heavy station wagon—it weighs up to 2,600 kg. Firefighters drive it and it can cross the bridge even when it is closed to all traffic.

The previous wind speed record on the Krk Bridge was measured on November 11, 2013, when the Bora wind blew at 221.8 kilometers per hour.

Before that, the highest value was on February 4, 2012, when 220.7 kilometers per hour was measured.

The strongest bora ever measured in Croatia was the one near Maslenički Most (Maslenica Bridge) on the night of 21-22 December 1998.

In this so-called Christmas storm, the gusts reached 248.4 kilometres per hour.

What is the connection between the wine barrel and the Krk Bridge?

In 49 BC, an important naval battle between Pompey and Julius Caesar took place in the area of today's bridge.

Caesar's soldiers built a raft out of wine barrels to reach land. The Liburni, the local population who used wine barrels, probably helped them.

The description of this important battle includes the word "wine barrel" for the first time in a written document.

Even today, above the Krk Bridge, the Venetian watchtower is visible. From this, this important traffic junction around the channel between the mainland and the island of Krk has always been monitored.

The guardhouse, located on the nearby Immortelle plantation, offers a great view of the bridge and the entire channel.

The neighboring Voz Bay is next to the Krk Bridge, offering a great perspective of this impressive bridge from below.

You can swim in Voz Bay and also go kayaking from there. We recommend a guided kayak tour that takes you under the Krk Bridge, an unforgettable experience.

It is equally attractive whether you do it early in the morning or at the colorful sunset.

During this time you will also paddle around the interesting island of Sveti Marko, framed by the two bridge arches.

New Krk Bridge to be completed by 2029 with four lanes & railway

The Croatian government plans to build a new Krk Bridge to improve transport links and ease traffic congestion. The bridge is due to be completed by 2029.

This new infrastructure is intended to relieve the existing Krk Bridge, which has been in operation since it opened in July 1980 and is struggling to cope with the growing influx of vehicles.

Concerns have also been raised about its structural integrity.

Recent studies show that storms, strong gusts, and salt exposure threaten the existing bridge.

The salt exposure caused significant concrete corrosion, which, in turn, caused cracks that compromised the bridge's structural integrity.

 

The planned new bridge will have four lanes for road traffic on the upper level.

A railway line will run under the bridge. Thus, the new Krk Bridge will enable efficient vehicle and train traffic.

The planned new bridge will be strategically located about 1,800 meters south of the current Krk Bridge on the Lanterna peninsula—just 600 meters from the mainland—to optimize connectivity and avoid congestion.

The preliminary plans allow for a direct connection to the A7 motorway.

Currently, the Krk Bridge must be reached via the D8 state road before turning onto the D102, which can cause congestion during peak hours.

In addition to the burgeoning tourism industry, the existing infrastructure underlines Krk's status as an emerging hub for trade and energy.

The Bridge to Krk - A Gateway to a Picturesque Island

In summary, the Krk Bridge is an impressive structure and an important gateway to the beautiful island of Krk.

It allows travelers to easily access the diverse beauties of this enchanting island without the need for a ferry. This saves time and money and makes getting to Krk much more hassle-free.

The best part? Once you cross the bridge, unforgettable experiences await you on Krk!

From gorgeous beaches that invite you to relax to charming old towns with their own flair to delicious culinary discoveries - the island has something for everyone.

So get ready to discover Krk in all its glory!