The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is a major infrastructure project that will connect the Danish island of Lolland with the German island of Fehmarn, crossing the Fehmarnbelt strait in the Baltic Sea. When completed in 2029, it will become the world’s longest undersea tunnel, at approximately 18 kilometres long.
What is the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel?
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is an immersed tunnel designed for road and rail traffic. It will have four lanes for the A1 motorway and two electrified railway tracks, allowing trains to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. The crossing between Rødby, Denmark, and Puttgarden, Germany, will take approximately seven minutes by train and 10 minutes by car, compared with 45 minutes by ferry.
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Costs and funding
The project’s estimated total cost is approximately 55.1 billion Danish kroner (≈USD 8 billion), funded mainly by the Danish government. Construction began in 2021 in Denmark and in 2022 in Germany, with completion estimated for 2029.
Impact on travel and the economy
The tunnel will significantly reduce travel time between Scandinavia and Central Europe. The train journey between Copenhagen and Hamburg will fall from 4.5 hours to 2.5 hours, boosting trade, tourism and economic development in the surrounding regions.
Environmental considerations
The project includes environmental protection measures: reusing excavated soil for wetlands, reducing noise and protecting marine habitats. These actions contribute to biodiversity conservation and the creation of recreational spaces for the public.
Technology and construction
The tunnel will be built from 89 prefabricated elements, each weighing 73,500 tonnes and measuring 217 metres in length. They will be submerged at a depth of 40 metres and connected to form the 18-kilometre corridor. The process has been compared to assembling Lego pieces because of its precision and efficiency.
Benefits for the region
The project will create new jobs, stimulate tourism and support the development of local infrastructure, particularly in Denmark’s Rødbyhavn region, which is considered less economically developed.
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel represents a major step in European infrastructure integration, reducing travel times and stimulating the regional economy. It is an example of modern, sustainable and innovative transport in Northern Europe.
