Construction is underway for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, the world’s longest pre-fabricated road and rail tunnel, set to significantly reduce travel times between Hamburg and Copenhagen while enhancing European connectivity.
Denmark-Germany Tunnel Project: A Record-Breaking Engineering Marvel Set to Transform Travel
Denmark-Germany Tunnel Project: A Record-Breaking Engineering Marvel Set to Transform Travel
The ambitious Fehmarnbelt tunnel aims to connect Denmark and Germany with an unprecedented engineering feat beneath the Baltic Sea.
The construction of a groundbreaking tunnel known as the Fehmarnbelt is currently underway, stretching 18 kilometers (11 miles) beneath the Baltic Sea and linking Denmark and Germany. When completed, this extraordinary engineering endeavor will not only be the longest pre-fabricated road and rail tunnel globally, but it will also optimize transportation across Scandinavia and beyond.
Situated at the northern entrance on Lolland island in Denmark, the massive construction site encompasses over 500 hectares (1,235 acres) and is equipped with a factory that manufactures tunnel sections referred to as "elements." According to Henrik Vincentsen, chief executive of the Danish state-owned company Femern, which oversees the project, these elements are constructed using reinforced steel and concrete to create units measuring 217 meters (712 feet) in length and 42 meters in width.
Unlike traditional underwater tunnels that burrow through bedrock, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel will leverage a unique approach, with 90 separate elements being linked and immersed on the seafloor, akin to assembling Lego bricks. This innovative methodology has driven the project's cost to around €7.4 billion (approximately $8.1 billion). Funding primarily originates from Denmark, with supplementary support from the European Commission contributing €1.3 billion. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel represents one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region, aligning with the EU's mission to bolster travel links across the continent and minimize the reliance on air travel.
Upon its completion, the travel duration between Rødbyhavn in Denmark and Puttgarten in Germany will be reduced to just 10 minutes by car, or 7 minutes by train, supplanting the current 45-minute ferry journey. This new rail route will also significantly shorten travel time between Copenhagen and Hamburg – from five hours to just 2.5 hours – providing a more environmentally friendly option for both freight and passenger transport.
“This project connects not just Denmark with Germany, but all of Scandinavia with Central Europe,” Mr. Vincentsen emphasizes, stating that fewer travel kilometers will lead to lower carbon emissions and lessen the transportation climate impact.
With cranes towering above the site, construction manager Anders Gert Wede elaborated on the meticulous process taking place: each element will be precisely lowered into a trench on the seafloor using advanced underwater cameras and GPS technology to ensure it aligns perfectly with a precision of 15mm.
The construction site’s geological conditions contributed to the decision to pursue a tunnel rather than a bridge, as the area features soft clay and bedrock that make traditional drilling impractical. The construction team wished to avoid disruptions from excessive winds or the risk of ships colliding with a bridge structure, making an immersed tunnel a safer and more cost-effective alternative.
Though the development faced opposition from environmental groups concerned about its potential impact on marine wildlife, including larvae and harbour porpoises, a federal court ruling in 2020 allowed the project to proceed. To mitigate ecological disturbances, the Femern team has devised strategies to minimize negative effects, such as the creation of a 300-hectare wetland nature and recreational area arising from the excavated materials.
Once operational in 2029, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is estimated to handle over 100 trains and 12,000 cars daily, with toll revenues expected to enable the financing recovery over approximately 40 years. The initiative aims not only to bolster connectivity but also to foster growth in jobs and tourism, particularly in Lolland, one of Denmark's economically challenged regions.
As Wede notes, "The locals have been eagerly awaiting this project, excited about the potential for economic development and businesses in the area."
Situated at the northern entrance on Lolland island in Denmark, the massive construction site encompasses over 500 hectares (1,235 acres) and is equipped with a factory that manufactures tunnel sections referred to as "elements." According to Henrik Vincentsen, chief executive of the Danish state-owned company Femern, which oversees the project, these elements are constructed using reinforced steel and concrete to create units measuring 217 meters (712 feet) in length and 42 meters in width.
Unlike traditional underwater tunnels that burrow through bedrock, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel will leverage a unique approach, with 90 separate elements being linked and immersed on the seafloor, akin to assembling Lego bricks. This innovative methodology has driven the project's cost to around €7.4 billion (approximately $8.1 billion). Funding primarily originates from Denmark, with supplementary support from the European Commission contributing €1.3 billion. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel represents one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region, aligning with the EU's mission to bolster travel links across the continent and minimize the reliance on air travel.
Upon its completion, the travel duration between Rødbyhavn in Denmark and Puttgarten in Germany will be reduced to just 10 minutes by car, or 7 minutes by train, supplanting the current 45-minute ferry journey. This new rail route will also significantly shorten travel time between Copenhagen and Hamburg – from five hours to just 2.5 hours – providing a more environmentally friendly option for both freight and passenger transport.
“This project connects not just Denmark with Germany, but all of Scandinavia with Central Europe,” Mr. Vincentsen emphasizes, stating that fewer travel kilometers will lead to lower carbon emissions and lessen the transportation climate impact.
With cranes towering above the site, construction manager Anders Gert Wede elaborated on the meticulous process taking place: each element will be precisely lowered into a trench on the seafloor using advanced underwater cameras and GPS technology to ensure it aligns perfectly with a precision of 15mm.
The construction site’s geological conditions contributed to the decision to pursue a tunnel rather than a bridge, as the area features soft clay and bedrock that make traditional drilling impractical. The construction team wished to avoid disruptions from excessive winds or the risk of ships colliding with a bridge structure, making an immersed tunnel a safer and more cost-effective alternative.
Though the development faced opposition from environmental groups concerned about its potential impact on marine wildlife, including larvae and harbour porpoises, a federal court ruling in 2020 allowed the project to proceed. To mitigate ecological disturbances, the Femern team has devised strategies to minimize negative effects, such as the creation of a 300-hectare wetland nature and recreational area arising from the excavated materials.
Once operational in 2029, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is estimated to handle over 100 trains and 12,000 cars daily, with toll revenues expected to enable the financing recovery over approximately 40 years. The initiative aims not only to bolster connectivity but also to foster growth in jobs and tourism, particularly in Lolland, one of Denmark's economically challenged regions.
As Wede notes, "The locals have been eagerly awaiting this project, excited about the potential for economic development and businesses in the area."
