Record-breaking Baltic tunnel to link Denmark and Germany by 2029
A record-breaking tunnel is being constructed under the Baltic Sea to connect Denmark with Germany, significantly reducing travel time and strengthening connections between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, reports BBC News.
A record-breaking tunnel is being built under the Baltic Sea to connect Denmark with Germany. The project, called Fehmarnbelt, will be the longest prefabricated road and rail tunnel in the world, measuring 11 miles. The investment aims to reduce travel time and improve connections between Scandinavia and Europe.
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is a remarkable engineering feat. Tunnel segments will be placed on the seabed and connected like Lego bricks. The main construction site is located on the island of Lolland in Denmark, where a factory is being built to produce the tunnel elements.
The project costs approximately €7.4 billion (£6.3 billion), of which €1.3 billion (£1.1 billion) comes from European Union funds. Upon completion, the journey between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden will take 10 minutes by car and 7 minutes by train, replacing the 45-minute ferry crossing.
The tunnel will not only shorten travel time but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The new railway route will cut travel time between Copenhagen and Hamburg from five hours to 2.5 hours, offering a more environmentally friendly solution for transporting goods and passengers.
The project has faced opposition from ferry operators and German environmental groups worried about the environmental impact. However, in 2020, a German federal court dismissed these concerns, allowing construction to proceed.
The future of the region
Upon the tunnel's opening in 2029, it is expected that more than 100 trains and 12,000 cars will use it daily. The investment is also expected to contribute to the economic and tourist development of the Lolland region.
