Lotta Sjöberg, 66, has öland bridge in the constantly eye-catcher. The bridge is clearly visible from her combined pottery studio and shop and the adjacent dwelling at the harbour in Färjestaden on Öland.

– There is traffic all the time, there is a constant flow and during the summer is the incredibly strained. It felt huge when it was built but today it is just too small, ” she says.

so interlocked with the öland bridge as Lotta Sjöberg. In addition to broutsikten was, in fact, her dad Stone Viktor Sjöberg one of those who sold the land on Ölandssidan so that the bridge could be built. But her relationship to the bridge is shared, for while it meant that the island of Öland, went from avfolkningsbygd to an island with increasing population meant it also to Others, which has been the centre for the ferry services from Kalmar, changed.

– Society dog of course to some extent for much was the down. It was the bridge that was in focus, the commute was great and the ferries disappeared, ” she says.

Lotta Sjöberg, 66, lives in Färjestaden on Öland. Photo: Martin Gustafsson

for many years, she along with others have worked hard to try to restore some of the charm that vanished with the bridge, and since 2011 it goes again, the ferry service between Färjestaden and Kalmar during the summer months.

” I grew up here and it felt sad that so much disappeared. It comes to life in the harbor again. The problem in Färjestaden is that society is incredibly sprawling on the basis of the construction of the bridge when they opened for the new residential areas a little here and there, ” she says.

the conviviality of the Others, she thinks that a new bridge must be built.

” of Course, the need for a new bridge. But I sincerely hope that they put it close to where it is today and then can the old be used as cykelbro, ” she says.

in recent times, an increasing number of voices raised to the planning of a new Ölandsbro must start and fourth of april with the issue in a motion in the parliament. Locals and tourists have simply grown tired of standing brounderhåll, traffic jams and a stressful environment that only gets worse as the traffic is increasing every year. For when the öland bridge was inaugurated in 1972 had probably not been able to imagine that 47 years later would run approximately 18.500 vehicles over the bridge on average every day, compared with the öresund bridge, about the 20,500 vehicles. A report from the then Swedish national road administration also shows that traffic volumes severely underestimated in the planning of the construction and was in reality several hundred percent higher against the calculated.

Lars Alexandersson, 70, was built to the öland bridge. Photo: Martin Gustafsson

A who were at the construction site was Lars Alexandersson, 70. The bridge was built at the same time, from Kalmar and Öland, and as a 19-year-old, he started as a carpenter on the Ölandssidan. Also he was born and resident in Färjestaden and remember the time before the bridge is very quiet. A big difference now, according to him.

” It has become for a lot of tourists, frankly. Now it is millions of cars here. The past had the only bike with them and camped, there was no car travel all the time, ” he says.

where he built the formwork for the concrete, when it rolled on as best he cast and the other about 35 yards in the week. The work environment was nothing that was priority at the time, the work clothes they had to stand for themselves.

” You had not so many clothes, it was sticktröja and no shirt. It was a bit funny because in the winter it was damn cold. It blew all the time and everything was nedisat, ” he says.

Image 1 of 2 Lars Alexanderssons own pictures from the construction of the öland bridge. Photo: Lars Alexandersson Slide 2 of 2 Lars Alexanderssons own pictures from the construction of the öland bridge. Photo: Lars Alexandersson Slideshow

Himself became Lars Alexandersson witness to a fatal accident. The bridge was almost completed, when a work colleague cut off the brackets to a posture without anyone to have ordered him, nor had he any lanyard.

” He did just that when you say you saw off the branch one sits on. He could not swim, there was a strong wind and the water was almost bluish-black, after a moment, I saw the yellow text on the back of his green jumpsuit, but then he disappeared.

the first came over the bridge. When it was only a few meters left before brodelarna from Kalmar and Öland met so he put a plank and went over.

Then followed two friends after. We went all the way to Kalmar, and got angry when we got back. But then I said ”it is once you get this chance and then you take it,” he says.

Even if a new bridge is needed, he is doubtful if the government will give priority to the island of Öland.

– the island of Öland is not so sure for them, it is Stockholm, which is the important thing. Look at the express train, it is Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg, but down here we have a railway tracks that barely works anymore, ” he says.