Grey Copenhagen Time lapse

 

This summer in Copenhagen has yet to show some real summer weather for more than a few days. This time lapse was filmed over a few days of grey in the end of June.

Metro timelapse

The Copenhagen Metro is a great place to make a time lapse video with the GoPro Hero3 camera if you have a suction cup. Gaffer tape can also be used, but then be prepared for some odd glances from your fellow travellers.

Confused?

I must confess, I'm mightily confused. In the end of February the redoing of the pavement in the pedestrian street of Frederiksborgvej was finally finished after two years of work. And all applauded the new pavement and the new street. A month later it was ripped up again to make way for a new entrance to the metro in the middle of the street on the narrowest point where thousands pass each day, cutting the width to a third. A lot of protests followed, not least from the neighbours that only got one month of warning, and from the shops that would have their access almost blocked. But the people behind the decision didn't seem to be budging and most people seemed to accept the fact that the construction would go on. Yesterday I passed again and woe and behold, they're apparently re-doing the pavement again. First I thought that they had finally come to their senses again, but alas no. They're just moving the construction site so it will be to the right instead of in the middle. So they will only redo the pavement to the left. The result is that for the next two years it will still not be easy to pass here during rush hour. And even when they're finished, this will be a major bottleneck. I (and many others, I'm sure) can only wonder at the way construction in this city is run.

A never ending story

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that Copenhagen is changing, and I really think that the many constructions will make the city a better place to live for all. But like many other Copenhageners I'm tired of having to change my routines and my way of getting from A to B on a daily basis. And I'm really looking forward to the day where the metro construction, the roadworks and the building constructions have been finished so that it will look like a city again instead of one big construction site. I also wish for the day where the constructors and city planners will show due consideration to the locals here. This dump truck driver is one of those that should have been taken on a lenghty course on how to behave when in close proximity of a busy station; he was reversing at speed into the construction site at Nørreport Station without a safety guy behind him. No one was hurt...this time!

 

Fenced in

The equestrian statue of King Christian V must fell pretty fenced in behind the high green wall surrounding him and the metro construction site at Kongens Nytorv. And he better get used to it as the construction will go on for the next 4-5 years.

Playing to no audience

The street musicians doesn't seem to mind the cold weather as they're on the streets and squares of Copenhagen all year round. This one on the City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) did seem to be struggling to attract an audience, as he sat with his back to the green fence surrounding the metro construction site. At least the sun was out to give him some warmth.

Yet another bridge

Yet another bridge has been constructed in Copenhagen, this time spanning the Sortedam Lake. Part of the lake is being drained to make room for the metro construction, as this will be one of the three starting points for the tunnel boring machines.

High

The towers and spires in Copenhagen is at the moment being outnumbered by the construction cranes. Here it's the metro construction site at the central island of Slotsholmen, where the parliament is, that is competing with the tower of Nikolaj Church.

And now working Saturdays too

 

The company constructing the new metro city-ring in Copenhagen has just got permission to work on Saturdays, as long as the work isn't too noisy. With the ongoing debate about the high levels of noise from the construction, this won't be the last we hear about that issue. The photo here is from the construction site around the Marble Church (yes, the construction site almost surround the church).

Showing the city

I've told you about the little train that take tourists around the inner city, but there's alternatives to that. The horse carriages is a new feature here, or rather an old one that has been re-emerging. This one is passing one of the big ads that "decorate" the fence around the metro construction on Kongens Nytorv.

Take the train

 

If you're to tired to move around the inner city of Copenhagen why not take the train? This one is with a guide and will take you on a round trip through the old city starting from Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square). I suspect that it is best to use it in the summer months as Denmark can be a bit chilly at other times.

Not always empty

 

The Copenhagen metro is not always as empty as this. There's usually a fair amount of people onboard hence the shift to less seatings and more standing room. These driverless trains are often the fastest way of crossing Copenhagen if one of the only two lines run near you and your destination. As told before the third line, which is under construction, will be a very needed addition to the system when it's ready in 2018.

More art on the green wall

 

As told yesterday the green walls around the metro construction sites in Copenhagen are being decorated with art and photographs. This pic is from the wall at Kongens Nytorv.

 

The green Wall of Copenhagen

 

As told here before the construction of the new metro line in Copenhagen is making its mark around the city. One of the more obvious things is the large, green walls that has been put up around the construction sites. In a bid to make it look a bit better some of the walls will be used as place to show street art, photographic exhibitions or other public stuff. Here it's iconic photographs on Kongens Nytorv. -CL

 

No service or delayed

These days are not good for the commuters in Copenhagen, as construction works on stations, railway lines and roads make travel around the city more than just a bit difficult. Trains run after a new timetable with fewer trains, closed lines and busses as a substitute, and busses change route and stops pretty arbitrary, so use rejseplanen.dk to plan your travel and expect extra travel time. The photo shows the busiest station in Denmark, Nørreport, that is being renovated while in service most of the time.

 

A new sidewalk

One of the many streets in Copenhagen closed to traffic due to construction work seems close to be opened again. A four lane street, Vester Voldgade running across the central square Rådhuspladsen, has been transformed to a two lane street with a wide sidewalk perfect for café tables or outdoor life. It's still closed down to traffic at the square and will be until construction on the metro finishes in a about 2018.

A transport hub

Copenhagen Central Station (Danish: Københavns Hovedbanegård, København H) is the largest train station in Denmark and has 13 platforms. Intercity, Regional trains, S-trains, taxis, buses and from 2017 a underground metro station carry the hundreds of thousand of passengers.

The current station recently celebrated its 100th birthday and plans to modernise it will see it running another century.

One thing that is particularly striking is the wooden beams which span the hall. Usually steel would have been used but the builders of the station opted for the more elegant solution.

-RS

Still Digging

As mentioned before the new Metro lines are on their way, so the central square Rådhuspladsen and other squares are not exactly pleasing visually. From this photo was taken in February until now progress has been made though.

With the construction of the new metro line in Copenhagen, there's a lot of constructions sites that need something to make them easier on the eye. On Kongens Nytorv in the centre the fence here has been decorated by the street-artist Shepard Fairey when he visited the city in August.

Not less of a mess

For the last year or so Copenhagen has been looking like one big construction site with all the roadworks and the preparations for the new metro-line. In the last two weeks a lot of posters were added to the messy sight that greets citizens and tourists alike. Just about everywhere where it's allowed (and quite a few places where it isn't) election posters has been put up prior to the general election coming up on September the 15th. There's a debate going on if these posters actually turns any votes or not, but to me they don't add anything pretty to a city that's already a bit messy.