Nordic Connector is a research project by Esa Eranti D.Sc. and Antti Talvitie PhD for The Kvarken Council to study the cost and feasibility of a fixed connection in Kvarken area between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden. Images for the project have been done between 2020-2025. Project has been known also as Kvarken Bridge, Kvarkenbro and Kvarken Fixed Connection. Project is still continuing.
These images have been featured globally in news outlets such as: Diario AS, QQ, Helsingin Sanomat, YLE, Iltalehti, Tekniikka & Talous, Sveriges Radio, Västerbottens-Kuriren, Svenska Dagbladet, Industry Radar etc.
Note: These images are only sketches of various parts of the fixed connection. These images are not meant to be seen as fully developed plans to actually build this connection.
Images here are in 1200 x 900 pixel size, which is enough to share online. Send me an email to pietari.visanti(at)visgraphics.fi if you need higher resolution images. 3D visualizations are in 2400 x 1800 size. 2D graphics are larger. Please mention VIS Graphics if you share or print an image somewhere.
2025 Presentation images
2025 Artificial Island. This image has all the components needed for a fixed connection across the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden: embankment road, artificial island (with a hotel, marina, maintenance and rescue and substation for a wind farm), bridge and cable-stayed bridge.
Image used in:
2025 blog post in Uusi Suomi by Antti Talvitie (finnish)
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 article by Kuljetusnet (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector Sunrise. An image of new hope for Finland. The last image in a 2025 book by Esa Eranti.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Artificial Island Front view. You can be the first media to use this image!
2025 Overview of the Nordic Connector bridge. The bridge with a truck, a van and a car.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2025 article by Kuljetusnet (finnish)
2025 Map of Nordic Connector cities in finnish. The map highlights the 5 cities and the area that will benefit from Nordic Connector.
Image used in:
2025 article by Tekniikka ja Talous (finnish. T&T is the largest technology news outlet in Finland)
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2025 article by Kuljetusnet (finnish)
2025 blog post by Antti Talvitie (finnish)
2025 Map of Nordic Connector cities in swedish. The map highlights the 5 cities and the area that will benefit from Nordic Connector.
Image used in:
2025 article by Vasabladet (swedish)
2025 post in Hufvudstadsbladet (swedish, Hufvudstadsbladet is Finland’s largest Swedish-language daily newspaper)
2025 post in Hufvudstadsbladet (swedish, Hufvudstadsbladet is Finland’s largest Swedish-language daily newspaper)
2025 Umeå-Shanghai Map. An equal area map to illustrate the benefits of Nordic Connector compared to Rotterdam- Singapore sea route.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (english)
2025 route comparison. This map has the proposed route by Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency / WSP compared to the route proposal by Eranti Engineering. Nature reserve areas in green. Kvarken world heritage area in pink. In finnish.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2024 Presentation Images
2024 bridge – Image with a 122 meter bridge element designed by Esa Eranti D.Sc. and Jussi Luokkakallio M.Sc. The bridge has 120 meter span. Image shows the capabilities of Nordic Connector for transporting goods between Finland and Sweden.
Image used in:
2025 article by Finnish Seafarer’s Union (finnish, swedish)
2025 blog post by Antti Talvitie (finnish)
2025 article by Diario AS (spanish)
2024 bridge element – Element designed by by Esa Eranti D.Sc. and Jussi Luokkakallio M.Sc. VIS Graphics 3D-rendering based on 2D CAD drawings.
Image used in:
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (english)
2024 new view to the cable-stayed bridge from the front in the morning light. This part of the bridge would be south of Holmögadd, where goes the deep channel for ships up to Panamax-dimensions.
Image used in:
2025 article by Finnish Seafarer’s Union (finnish, swedish)
2024 foundation serial fabrication. Image showing the serial nature of foundation fabrication. A similar image of wind turbine foundations was used in the 2024 Nordic Connector- presentation.
Image used in:
Nordic Connector presentation images (english)
2024 bridge. Overview from above. This image shows the bridge used only with trucks in a crisis situation.
Image used in:
2025 article by Finnish Seafarer’s Union (finnish, swedish)
2025 blog post by Antti Talvitie (swedish)
2024 122 meter bridge element with foundation on white background. You can be the first media to use this image!
2024 122 meter bridge element with foundation on white background. With explanations for all the major components. You can be the first media to use this image!
2024 122 meter bridge element with foundation dissection.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube-video by Geography 360 (english)
2024 122 meter bridge element with foundation dissection and explanations for all the major components. You can be the first media to use this image!
Route options. (Not changed in 2024) Map showing the two basic route options with estimated lengths for different types of roads. Many news sites have made their own version from this map. Some news sites have also included these routes with other proposed routes.
Image used in:
2025 Merenkurkun kiinteän yhteyden toteutettavuusselvitys, Väyläviraston julkaisuja 60/2025 (finnish)
2025 article by KuljetusNet (finnish)
2025 article by Finnish Seafarer’s Union (finnish, swedish)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 article by RDN (spanish)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2020 article by YLE (finnish)
2020 article by YLE (russian)
2020 article by Auto Tekniikka ja Kuljetus. (finnish)
26/2020 Tekniikka & Talous Supergraafi (finnish)
Route options with nature reserve areas. (Not changed in 2024) Map showing the two basic route options with estimated lengths for different types of roads and nature reserve areas around Kvarken area.
Image used in:
2025 article by Agenda tankesmedjan ajatushautomo (swedish)
2024 article by Dagens Transport & Logistik 4/2024 (swedish)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2024 article by Iltalehti (finnish)
2024 article by infrastrukturnyheter.se (swedish)
2020 article by KuljetusNet (finnish)
2024 Compromise route option. Longer embankment roads and shorter bridge sections to keep the costs down. Route avoids islands with nature reserve areas.
Image used in:
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2025 The route was used in a new illustration by The Sun (UK) in 2025. (english)
2024 section views with updated bridge element of both embankment road and the bridge. The technical issues of these foundations have been tested in Tahkoluoto Offshore Wind Farm, which is so far the only offshore wind farm in Finland in 2024.
Image used in:
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2024 side views with new bridge element of both embankment road in shallow water under 8 meter water depths and the bridge in more than 8 meter water depths. You can be the first media to use this image!
2024 foundations. One solution for shallow water and two solutions for deep water.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2024 Electric and gas pipes. 2 images showing how it would look like if electric and gas pipes were added to the side of embankment road and bridge.
Image used in:
KvarkenFixed Connection feasibility study meeting 3.9.2024- presentation (english)
2024 Kvarken land rising. 4 image series showing the land rising in Kvarken area from 10000 years, 5000 years and 1000 years ago to current time. Source material of previous water levels had only the shoreline information and obviously no bathymetry data was available, which meant that the water depths are only in NOW-image.
Image used in:
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2021 article by KuljetusNet.fi (finnish)
2022 Saltholm nature reserve area. This image is not directly related to Nordic Connector and Kvarken area, but this drawing of Saltholm between Copenhagen and Malmö was in the presentation to show that valuable nature reserve areas can exist near major cities and wind farms. There is also a busy highway going right through the Saltholm area.
Image used in:
2025 article by Finnish Seafarer’s Union (finnish, swedish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2024 Construction scheme. A simplified construction scheme showing the different stages of building a foundation for the Nordic Connector.
Image used in:
2025 MERITUULIVOIMAN VAIKUTUKSET VESISTÖIHIN JA ELIÖIHIN (finnish)
2025 Nordic Connector- presentation (finnish)
2025 ESA ERANTI – Oppeja uran varrelta ja ajatuksia Suomen tilasta. RIL Henkilöhistoriikki 226 (finnish)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2020 article by Auto Tekniikka ja Kuljetus. (finnish)
2020 Presentation images
These images have appeared in media between 2020-2025.
2020 bridge with a span of 100 meters. Clearance of the bridge is here 11 meters. At first there was no wind turbines in the illustration but three were added as they were often seen as important addition to the project. This was the VIS Graphics image with the most views and media exposure in 2020.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube-video by Constructopia (english)
2024 radio program by Sveriges Radio (swedish)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2024 article by Svenska Dagbladet (swedish)
2024 TV program by TV4Play (swedish)
2023 article by RanaBlad (swedish)
2023 Åbo Akademi blog (swedish)
2022 radio program by Sveriges Radio ((swedish, several times)
2021 Article by Österbottens Handelskammare (swedish)
26/2020 Tekniikka & Talous Supergraafi (finnish. T&T is the largest technology news outlet in Finland)
2020 radio program by Sveriges Radio (swedish)
2020 version cable-stayed bridge with a clearance for Panamax-tankers. This part of the bridge would be located on swedish side of Kvarken just south of Holmögadd, where is the deep channel route.
Image used in:
2025 printed article in Merimies-lehti 3/2025 (swedish)
2024 article by Dagens Transport & Logistik 4/2024 (swedish)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 article by Svenska Dagbladet (swedish, several times)
Lower view of the 2020 version cable-stayed bridge with a clearance for Panamax-tankers. This is the VIS Graphics image with the most views and media exposure in 2024.
Image used in:
2025 article by Branschaktuellt 10.6.2025 (swedish)
2025 article by IndustryRadar 11.6.2025 (danish)
2025 printed article in Merimies-lehti 3/2025 (swedish)
2025 article by Diario AS (spanish)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 article by Svenska Dagbladet (swedish)
2024 article by Omni (swedish)
2024 article by Folkbladet (swedish)
2024 WIC Science Channel Suomi Youtube (finnish)
2024 articles of Västerbottens-Kuriren (swedish)
2020 article by Liike Nyt Nettiparlamentti (finnish)
2020 article by Helsingin Sanomat (finnish)
2020 version bridge in sunset setting. This is an image that I did just for fun while experimenting with sky settings but it turned out quite nice and it has been used in many news outlets.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube-video by Geography Guy (english)
2025 Youtube-video by Constructopia (english)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 Driver Info article (ukrainian)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2020 article by Helsingin Sanomat (finnish)
2020 blog by Liike Nyt (finnish)
Embankment road, lower view. Long parts of the fixed connection in shallow waters will be embankment roads. The islands in the background do not represent any specific island but they could be around Valassaaret.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube-video by Geography Guy (english)
2025 printed article in Merimies-lehti 3/2025 (swedish)
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 article by Dagens Transport & Logistik 4/2024 (swedish)
2024 radio program by Sveriges Radio (swedish)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2024 article by Veckans Brief (swedish)
2024 article by infrastrukturnyheter.se (swedish)
2020 printed article by Helsingin Sanomat (finnish)
Embankment road, higher view. Embankment would have culverts with 100 meter gaps to ensure the flow of water in Kvarken area.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube- video by Billion Dollar Builds (english)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2020 maps. Showing the general area of the fixed connection together with one route option that was considered the best at first.
Image used in:
2024 Youtube-video by WIC Science Channel Suomi (finnish)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2024 article by PortalMorski.pl (polish)
2020 article in Auto Tekniikka ja Kuljetus (finnish)
2020 side views of both embankment road in shallow water under 8 meter water depths and the bridge in more than 8 meter water depths.
Image used in:
26/2020 Tekniikka & Talous Supergraafi (finnish. T&T is the largest technology news outlet in Finland)
2020 article by YLE (finnish)
2020 article by YLE (russian)
2020 section views of both embankment road and the bridge. The technical issues of these foundations have been tested in Tahkoluoto Offshore Wind Farm, which is so far the only offshore wind farm in Finland in 2024.
Image used in:
26/2020 Tekniikka & Talous Supergraafi (finnish. T&T is the largest technology news outlet in Finland)
2020 Nordic Connector by night. This image was used in 2020 Christmas cards to clients and associates.
2020 Bridge overview. This version of the bridge had a sidewalk for pedestrians, bicycles and maintenance. That idea has been left out later. A better updated 2025 version of this image exists.
Image used in:
2025 Youtube-video by Geography Guy (english)
2025 Youtube- video by Constructopia (english)
2025 Youtube- video by Billion Dollar Builds (english)
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)
2021 Finland megaproject infographic. Comparison of the three proposed infrastructure megaprojects in Finland.
Image used in:
2024 article by news.qq.com (chinese)