The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is a $7 billion undertaking involving an extraordinary underwater structure. It is expected to be completed by 2029.
The project comprises nearly 100 tunnel segments, each measuring 217 meters long and weighing 73,500 tons. It is truly a marvel of engineering.
Construction crews are digging a massive trench on the ocean floor while the individual tunnel sections are assembled on land.
Tunnel portals that link the motorway and railway on land with the submerged tunnel are also under construction on both ends of the Fehmarnbelt.
Maritime construction began in June 2020, with builders using approximately two million tons of Norwegian granite to form an entirely new stretch of coastline.
Work on the German side of the tunnel commenced in 2021, marking the culmination of at least 15 years of planning.
The project is funded by a $5 billion loan from the Danish government, which will be recouped through toll charges. The European Commission is contributing an additional $1 billion.
Initially, the project was estimated to cost over $4 billion, including a $1 billion EU grant and $117 million for associated railway facilities.
The colossal structure will facilitate the rail transport of goods, including steel, from as far north as Norway's tip to central and southern Europe.
Additionally, it promises to reduce train travel time between Copenhagen and Hamburg from 4.5 hours to 2.5 hours.
Denise Juchem, spokesperson for Femern A/S, the Danish company spearheading the project, told Euronews Travel: "For commuters, it means a faster and more reliable connection between Denmark and Germany, significantly reducing travel time and making daily commutes much more convenient."
While motorists stand to benefit significantly from the tunnel, the project's promise of even quicker train travel times is expected to sway commuters towards rail over the road.
https://www.the-express.com/journalist/123705/Nelson-Espinal
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