Säpilä suspension bridge

The Säpilä suspension bridge is a significant passage both historically and recreation over the Kokemäenjoki River. At one time, a suspension bridge was built to allow children to go to school on the other side of the river. Today, the bridge is popular in recreational and fitness and also as an attraction. However, this was not the case in 2017, when the Säpilä suspension bridge was closed due to its poor condition. The Raition Village Association rented a bridge to the village association and renovated it with a workforce. The renovated bridge was opened again on May 1, 2019. Add the bridge repair and back a little later. Our company and Säpilä suspension bridge are united by a common location in the heart of Satakunta, Kokemäki. We had a great topic of joy and pride to get involved in supporting the village association so that the magnificently renovated bridge could continue well in the future. In early September, the wooden parts of the suspension bridge were treated with Uula Puu Oil . Now the whole bridge with its handrails and decks has been protected again for years.

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Säpilä suspension bridge is a sample of the power of the Raition Village Association's work

The Säpilä suspension bridge was originally built in 1950. The bridge is 164 meters in total and 2.1 meters wide. It is intended for light traffic. Most of the bridge structures were still original in 2016. Last time in the late 90s, the suspension bridge was closed at both ends on 1 January 2017 and implemented in poor condition for use.

The Raition Village Association was founded in 1984. It officially registered in 2018. The board of the association was organized on May 17, 2018, rented a suspension bridge from the Kokemäki city to the village association and set the aim for the comprehensive refurbishment of the bridge over the next year. The village association budgets the repair of the bridge will cost EUR 235,000 including work. The project's financial plan consisted of funding, work and grants from the city of Kokemäki and Leader Karhuse. The sleeves were wrapped without time and started working. The steel parts, however, the bridge, which needed the pylons corrected and painting, was poor in the wooden bridge. The work included the adjustment of the pylons, as well as the construction of new railings and deck. The village association of the load -bearing structures and the painting work of the Pylons gave the contractors selected by contracts.

The financing of the renovation began in August 2018 with the acquisition of member and support members, applying for grants, and, among other things, three auctions, whose proceeds were directed to the village association. The acquisition of funding progressed well. In November 2018, the village association was able to make a timber shop on the railings and the bridge deck. The first timber delivery arrived at the Säpilä shortly before Christmas Eve. The construction of the deck and railings and the replacement of the load -bearing structures of the bridge began in January. Bridge load -bearing structures and new railings with networks and lower decking were ready in March. The bridge was completed on March 30, 2019, when 40 Talcans used a 1,800 -meter board and over 7,000 screws in one day to finish the bridge cover. The sandblasting and painting of the bridge steel pylons started as soon as the wooden parts were completed and on April 12, 2019 the bridge was ready for finishing.

Before the activation of the village association, the wildest repair cost estimates for the bridge renovation moved around € 600,000. When the bridge repair was completed, the bridge supplies and contractors had spent about € 130,000. All the wooden parts of the bridge were renewed and the pylons were straightened and painted. Approximately 2100 working hours were carried out. Their financial value can be calculated as € 31,000. In addition, the village association also received supplies as donations, which, according to the value of which, in the total cost of the bridge renovation remained around € 180,000. Thus, the repair budget estimate even below was below.

The success of the repair project showed how important it is to preserve the suspension bridge. Membership and support membership fees to finance the renovation of the renovation received a total of nearly 500.

Let the unique value of the suspension bridge in the future!