VISBY, Sweden - The new Kopparsviksbron pedestrian bridge in Visby was used for the first time on Wednesday as the cruise ship AidaDiva docked at the city's cruise terminal. According to SVT Östergötland, hundreds of passengers walked across the bridge during the morning, marking the inaugural use of the new infrastructure.
Mats Eriksson, harbor manager at Region Gotland, described the occasion as "a big day" for the city. "To stand here together with cruise passengers who get to walk on the bridge for the first time is a big day," Eriksson said. He noted that while the bridge is now in use, it is not yet completely finished.
The bridge, described as a new landmark in the form of an illuminated rust-red pedestrian bridge, connects the cruise terminal with the Kopparsvik area. Eriksson explained that special arrangements were in place for the first use, including additional security personnel on site. "We have a bit of a special solution since it's the first time," he said, adding that the planned passenger flows appeared to be working well.
The opening represents a significant development for Visby's cruise tourism infrastructure, providing direct pedestrian access from the cruise terminal to the city center.