Fehmarnbelt tunnel: The first element is to be lowered this year
The Fehmarnbelt tunnel between Fehmarn and Lolland is intended to drastically reduce travel times for trains and cars. An important step is about to be taken.
Pontoons are used to transport the finished tunnel elements to their lowering point, where they are lowered into place.
(Image: Femern A/S)
The first tunnel element of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel between the islands of Fehmarn on the German side and Lolland on the Danish side is to be lowered this year. Femern A/S, the company responsible for the planning and construction of the world's longest immersed tunnel, confirmed the schedule for the 18.1-kilometer-long infrastructure project through the Baltic Sea at the turn of the year. The tunnel is scheduled for completion in 2029.
With the tunnel, journeys from Puttgarden to Rødbyhavn should only take 7 minutes by train and 10 minutes by car. At present, crossing the Fehmarnbelt by ferry takes 45 minutes – not including waiting times. In future, it should be possible to travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by train in just 2.5 hours – Currently, the journey takes around 5 hours.
Construction of 89 tunnel elements
On the German side, further expansion of the tunnel portal towards the south is to take place this year. Around 450 meters of tunnel will be built there using the cut-and-cover method. A 150 meter long light transition zone and an operations building will also be built. On the Danish side, the shorter tunnel section on land (160 meters) will be completed this year. Production of the 89 tunnel elements will also continue.
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The lowering of the first tunnel element is an important milestone. To make this possible, the special ships designed for this purpose must first be tested and approved. Three parties must agree to the lowering of each tunnel element: In addition to a company carrying out the construction work and the client, the insurance companies must also give the green light in each case. The prerequisite is stable weather conditions for three to four days. The immersed tunnel will first be built on the Danish side before continuing on the German side.
(Image:Â Femern A/S)
Improving the rail link
On the German side, DB Netz AG is already in the process of renewing the rail link between LĂĽbeck and Puttgarden. The tunnel is also intended to improve rail freight traffic between Germany and Scandinavia.
(mki)
