Well-kept arch bridge honoured

The 2018 Europa theme is Bridges. 9 May sees Åland Post’s issue featuring the interesting 1950s arch bridge connecting the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress with the island of Prästö.

MEASURING 61 METRES, the Bomarsund Bridge is part of country road 2 passing through the ruins of Bomarsund fortress to Prästö and further on to the archipelago municipality of Vårdö. Commonly known as the Prästö Bridge, it is neither the longest nor the tallest of the 53 bridges in Åland, but it is one of only two arch bridges, the other being the Färjsund Bridge, featured on a stamp in 1987.

THE POSTAL ROUTE was the main route from Eckerö in the west to the landingstage at Bomarsund in Sund for a long time. But travelling was slow with many bent roads and crossings by boat. A major expansion of the road network came about in the 1950s. By then, passenger cars were commonly used and people wanted to travel with speed and in comfort. New roads, bridges and embankments were built at a rapid pace. Completed in concrete in 1958, the lifespan of the narrow one-lane Bomarsund Bridge is, however, coming to an end. Due to a substantial increase of traffic and heavier vehicles, weight restrictions apply since many years. The Åland Provincial Government has it listed as one of a number of bridges that need to be reconstructed by 2023.

FROM THE START, Sandra Henriksson knew exactly how to create the stamp: “For a more dramatic and interesting image and not just a profile image of the bridge, I decided to create a rectangular stamp motif to capture the bridge in perspective.”

A web designer in everyday life, she otherwise enjoys creating Indian ink and watercolour drawings of animals and nature.

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EUROPA – BRIDGES

DATE OF ISSUE: 9 May 2018 ARTIST: Sandra Henriksson

EDITION: 130 000

DENOMINATION: Europa (€1.50) PRICE FDC: €2.25

STAMP SIZE: 50 x 20 mm

SHEET SIZE: 2 x 15 stamps PAPER: 110 g/m² PERFORATION: 12 per 2 cm PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset

PRINTING HOUSE: Bpost

On the first day cover, the artist places us on the bridge for an interesting close-up of the construction of the bridge. Take this opportunity to also order the stamp motif as a postcard on page 11.