Mammoet has successfully completed the relocation of the historic Kiruna Church, moving the 713-tonne wooden structure in one piece to its new location in Kiruna’s city center. The two-day operation marks a milestone in the preservation of one of Sweden’s most iconic buildings.
Built in the early 1900s and once voted Sweden’s most beautiful building, Kiruna Church is also one of the country’s largest wooden constructions. Its relocation was made necessary by the ongoing expansion of LKAB’s iron ore mine, which required parts of the old town — including the church — to be moved five kilometers to a newly developed urban area.
Commissioned by civil engineering firm Veidekke and LKAB, Mammoet was tasked with the challenge of transporting the fragile structure intact. The undertaking involved more than 1,000 hours of preparation and was nicknamed “The Great Church Walk.” Thousands of residents, alongside the King of Sweden, gathered to witness the historic move.
To safeguard the church, Mammoet worked in close cooperation with Veidekke and Swedish wood engineering specialists to model the building’s structural behavior under load. The move was scheduled for August, ensuring favorable weather conditions.
The structure was carefully jacked up 1.3 meters, placed onto steel beams, and loaded onto two trains of 28 axle lines of Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). A bespoke monitoring system developed by Mammoet kept the church stable throughout the journey, limiting tilt to just 7.5 centimeters.
Extensive civil works preceded the move, including temporary road widening and soil compacting. Mammoet also conducted test drives with counterweights to simulate the church’s load before the actual relocation.
The operation took place during daylight hours on August 19 and 20. Upon arrival at the new site, the church was gently lowered onto its prepared concrete foundations, completing a move that will be remembered as a landmark in engineering and heritage preservation.
In the coming days, Mammoet will also relocate the church’s 90-tonne belfry using a specialized SPMT configuration.
“This project exemplifies the importance of detailed engineering and planning in executing unique and meaningful moves,” said William Soeters, Project Manager at Mammoet. “We’re proud to have played a key role in safeguarding this historic building for future generations.”
