A engineering mega is transforming the map of European mobility. The 18 -kilometer Fehmanbelt tunnel and a budget of 7.4 billion euros will turn on Denmark to Germany by 2030, shortening trips and boosting commerce and tourism in the region.
According to the Spanish newspaper As, the rail and road connection between Rødbyhavn, on the Danish Island of Lolland, and Puttgarden, on the German island of Fehmarn, will be made through a unique infrastructure on the continent. The construction differs from the Eurotunnel, which crosses the stain channel on firm soil: here, the marine background is excavated and receives huge prefabricated concrete blocks that, once interconnected, are submerged and covered.
Each section measures 217 meters long, 42 wide and nine deep, with about 73,000 tons of weight. Its placement requires thorough calculations and strongly depends on weather conditions, as there is no margin for errors in operation.
A descent to the bottom of the sea
The first section of the tunnel came out this year from the Rødbyhavn factory, marking a decisive step in the project. According to Denise Juchem, head of the state company FEMERN A/S, the immersion of each piece will take about 40 hours, involving 22 experts subject to intensive training.
The operation will not have practical tests: it all depends on the preparation, previous calculations and coordination on the ground. Each phase of the construction is carefully accompanied to avoid any unforeseen event, given the impact of investment and technical complexity.
Those responsible estimate that the work is completed by 2030, radically transforming the connection between the two countries and the regional capitals of Hamburg and Copenhagen.
A halved -reduced trip
Currently, the ferry crossing takes 45 minutes. With the tunnel, this time drops to 10 minutes by car or just 7 train. For longer trips, such as hamburg – copene, the reduction is even more significant: of the current five hours of train, the route will pass just over two and a half hours.
This efficiency represents gains for transportation and logistics companies, but also for passengers using the corridor as a daily or regular connection between Scandinavia and Germany.
Impact no tourism
In addition to transporting goods, the tunnel opens doors to local economic development. According to Mads Schreiner, Visitdenmark’s international marketing director, the project is “a turning point for tourism in Denmark and Scandinavia in general.”
The ease of access will allow you to attract more visitors to the small locations that often stay in the shadow of Copenhagen, better distributing tourist flow and creating new job opportunities.
More than a tunnel
The bet goes beyond mobility. According to the investment aims to balance growth between regions, enhance international trade and create cultural experiences that make Denmark and northern Germany stay destinations, not just passing.
By reducing logistics costs, costs and barriers, the Fehmanbelt tunnel should become one of the most strategic infrastructures on the European continent in the coming decades.
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