An under-construction£6.2billion project is anticipated to become the world's longest underwater rail and roadtunneland drastically reduce travel time betweenScandinaviaand Central Europe under theBalticSea. The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, also known as the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, will transform the current 45-minuteferrycrossing into a much quicker train journey, connecting southern Denmark with northernGermany.
Expected to be completed by 2029 and hailed by Danish planning company Femern as "Denmark'slargest infrastructure project and the world's longest immersed tunnel and rail link," the 11-mile structure is set to connect the Danish island of Lolland with Germany's Fehmarn island. Originally, the project was estimated to cost over £4.6billion, but this figure soon rose to £6.2billion in 2010 after the signing of the joint treaty to build the tunnel. The Danish government intends to finance and recover the tunnel's costs throughtollscollected at the crossing.
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The tunnel will establish a direct link from Roedby in Denmark to Puttgarten in Germany, providing onward connections by road and rail to central Europe and the Nordic countries. It will replace the heavily used ferry service currently run by Scandlines.
Motorists will be able to cross the Baltic Sea in only 10 minutes via the four-lane route, while train journeys are expected to take just seven minutes. The tunnel's electrified high-speed rail line will allow its trains to reach speeds of up to 125mph.
Femern has emphasised that an immersed tunnel is a "safe, tested and efficient way of building anunderwater tunnel".
"The technology is Danish-developed and builds on experiences from, among others, theØresund Tunnel. Once completed, the tunnel will not pose any obstacle to vessel traffic in the Fehmarnbelt. Marine safety is also a top priority during the construction phase.
"The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will be just as safe as a corresponding section ofmotorwayabove ground. The tunnel is equipped with continuous hard shoulders and emergency exits along its entire length."
The Institution of Civil Engineers emphasised that the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel will sit above the seabed, making it "a remarkable engineering feat".
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
