Kuussuaq east of the town of Qeqertarsuaq during periods in winter and spring, when the ice is soft, it can be dangerous to pass with a dog sled.
Against this background, the municipal council approved at the end of last year, in connection with the consideration of the Municipality of Qeqertalik’s budget for 2026, that 1 million kroner should be set aside for an extension of the bridge over Kuussuaq, so that it can be passed by dog sled.
Kuussuaq east of the town of Qeqertarsuaq during periods in winter and spring, when the ice is soft, it can be dangerous to pass with a dog sled.
Against this background, the municipal council approved at the end of last year, in connection with the consideration of the Municipality of Qeqertalik’s budget for 2026, that 1 million kroner should be set aside for an extension of the bridge over Kuussuaq, so that it can be passed by dog sled.
Construction of the bridge began in April and was completed on 25 August. But the bridge is not suitable for use by dog sleds, believes the dog sled association Qimusseq 82 in Qeqertarsuaq. The bridge is also built to be passable by ATVs, which has been received positively by ATV users and tour operators.
However, referring to the Inatsisartutlov on the protection of the environment, the Municipality of Qeqertalik decided the day after the opening of the bridge that the bridge must be temporarily closed to motorized vehicles. This has disappointed ATV users and tour operators.
Hearings will be held
When the bridge opened on August 25, several ATV and UTV owners in the city drove over the bridge towards the eastern part of the city. The new opportunity was welcomed. But the day after the bridge’s opening, the mayor of Qeqertalik Municipality, Simigaq Heilmann from Demokraatit, announced that it is forbidden to use the bridge with motorized vehicles.
– Qeqertarsuaq has a unique nature, and we have a responsibility to take good care of it. It is important that we ensure development based on sustainability.
– We all want our descendants to be able to use this land in the same way as us. Therefore, for the time being, the bridge will only be usable by pedestrians, while the rules for motor vehicles that can change the terrain are being drawn up, says Mayor Simigaq Heilmann.
According to the mayor, public hearings will be held in the near future about the possibility of crossing the bridge with motor vehicles.
New possibilities
Crossing the bridge, one can reach the beautiful and lush area on the east side of Qeqertarsuaq. Tourism operator Kasper Broberg owns Qeqertarsuaq Boat Tours ApS and has two accommodations. He was among the first to cross the bridge with UTVs when it was commissioned that day. He believes that the new bridge opens up new opportunities for the tourism industry.
– It is good that a bridge has been built which can be used by ATVs and UTVs. I can understand the concern about the terrain being damaged by motor vehicles.
– But I don’t think there is cause for concern if fixed routes are established for ATVs, says Kasper Broberg.
He believes, on the other hand, that the bridge will open up new business opportunities and that cabins and tent pitches can be established in certain places.
Hard to understand
However, he finds it difficult to understand that the bridge was closed to motor vehicles the day after its opening.
– The bridge has been under construction for several months. Consultations on the use of motor vehicles on the other side of the Kuussuaq should have been carried out before the construction of the bridge began or during it.
– If the hearings had been completed long ago, we could have used the time now for preparations before the tourists start coming next summer, he says.
The new international airport in Ilulissat is expected to open in October. According to Kasper Broberg, this will open the way for more tourists to come to Qeqertarsuaq next year. He also believes that it must be ensured that the bridge can be crossed by ATVs and UTVs if tourism is to be developed.
Disappointing
If Kuussuaq is to be crossed safely with dog sleds, a new and wide bridge is needed, which Qimusseq 82 has long wanted, says the association’s chairman Hansigne Broberg.
She is disappointed that the new bridge has been completed in its current design.
– Before the bridge was renovated and expanded, Qimusseq 82 was heard last year. We from Qimusseq 82 did not want the bridge that has now been extended and renovated, but rather a new bridge on the dog sled route.
– The bridge, which is now finished, cannot be passed safely with dog sleds, and therefore we are very disappointed not to have been heard, she says.
Hansigne Broberg emphasizes that Qimusseq 82 still wants a new bridge that is safe for dog sleds.
