An innovative bike and pedestrian connection in the form of a bank between the city of Växjö and newly developed area Bredvik generates multiple values.
There were physical barriers (railway, motorway, lake) for a sustainable connection between the new area Bredvik and other parts of Växjö. To solve the problem, a bridge for cycling and walking was planned.
Moreover, the lake had a poor water quality due partly to over-fertilization, a problem that also impairs recreational possibilities for people living in Bredvik.
The two problems led to thoughts of the possibility for another solution, instead of a classic bridge that was the plan at first. By building a bank instead of a bridge, it was possible to isolate the part of the lake with the poorest water quality. With the bank, a new lagoon was created.
With the restoration of an old inlet from the lake Helgasjön and by building the 3 meters deep bank, only fresh water flows into the lagoon and the lagoon’s water is not mixed with the eutrophicated water from the rest of the lake.
The new lagoon can now be used for swimming and gives other recreational values. On the bank benches and barbeque areas were built to stimulate social interaction. Trees and green infrastructures that were already on the island were saved for shade, biodiversity and other important ecosystem services. Meadow seeds were sown to increase the conditions for pollinators.
The main beneficiaries of the project are the citizens living in the area, who get a scenic connection with the city and a recreational place to visit.
Resources needed
The bank, with everything included 1 mn euro.
The funding of the project came mostly from the existing urban development project “Bredvik”. Some funding also came from a state land access grant for a nature reserve nearby.
Evidence of success
One year after the bank was built, the quality of the water in the lagoon is good enough to use for swimming, and people are using the biking and walking road to get between Bredvik and Växjö city.
Difficulties encountered
In connection with the construction work, there was a risk of some negative environmental impact, especially turbidity. This was especially true in connection with the construction of the road bank, as it is a large structure that needed to contain fine particulate material for its stability and den
Potential for learning or transfer
This practise is interesting for others to be inspired by, in different project planning processes and in the city development.
A success factor is that many different competencies within the municipality work together to find a solution that generates as many different positive results as possible. It was also important to have a high level of competence in ecosystem services in the municipality in order to be able to land in this type of solution.
By working with nature based solutions it’s often possible to get several positive effects, that even may be a cheaper solution than the original idea. To share knowledge and good practises about this way of working is important to open up for more nature based solutions.
Tags: Biodiversity, Development, Governance, Nature, Urban development, Water management
