In the heart of the Baltic Sea, one of the largest engineering works in the world is being built: a underwater tunnel that will directly connect to Denmark to Germany. This ambitious project, planned for decades, promises to revolutionize mobility in the region, but is not free of challenges and controversies. Learn more now in this article.
Fehmarn’s fixed connection, known as Fehmarn Fixed Link, will connect Lolland’s Danish Island to Fehmarn’s German island. It is part of the transport corridor Scan-Med, which crosses Europe from south to north, from Malta to Finland. When completed, this tunnel will allow you to reduce the route by about 350 kilometers, making the transport of people and goods much more efficient.
After years of planning and debates, the construction is already underway, scheduled for 2029. More than half of the space where the tunnel will be installed has already been excavated, while the sections through which the vehicles will circulate are being built on land . Once ready, these sections will be transported and placed at the bottom of the sea.
The wingspan of this project is impressive: more than 2,000 workers are involved in the work, considered one of the most important in European history. The tunnel will have bands for both road traffic and trains, allowing a much faster connection between Denmark and Germany. This route is expected to significantly reduce travel time, but traveling almost 20 kilometers under sea will be an unusual experience for many.
The structure of the world’s largest underwater tunnel will consist of 90 concrete sections, each 200 meters long and 42 meters wide. Each element will have two tubes for car circulation, two for trains and one for technical access. After being built on firm soil and tested to ensure that they are totally watertight, the sections will be installed 30 meters deep. The water will then be removed through a pumping system.
According to Gerhard Cords, director of tunnel construction, this construction method has been carefully planned to ensure the resistance of the structure. “We built the sections as a unique piece. Usually, the foundations are built, then the walls, and finally the top, but here everything is done together to control any tension that may arise. It is essential to avoid cracks and ensure that each compartment is completely tight, ”Cordes explained.
Despite the obvious advantages, the project is not free of criticism, especially for environmental reasons. Installation of the tunnel requires significant modifications to the bottom of the sea, which raises concerns about the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. The destruction of reefs in the construction zone delayed the works, as studies were needed to minimize environmental impacts.
Environmental activist Hendrick Kerlen warned of the possible consequences of building the largest underwater tunnel in the world. “The ecology of the Fehmarn belt is very different. Turbulence in this area will reduce the growth of macrophites and plankton and, of course, will have an impact on the entire sea fauna and flora, ”Kerlen told the portal ‘B1m’. As compensation, the company responsible for the project has committed to install new artificial reefs in another part of the Baltic Sea, covering an area larger than affected.
The total cost of this megaproject is estimated at 7.5 billion euros, being financed mainly for the tolls that will be charged for the use of the tunnel. When completed, 111 trains and more than 12,000 cars are expected to use this infrastructure daily, reducing distances and travel times significantly, writes a. In less than five years, the world may witness the inauguration of the largest submarine road on the planet.
Also read:
