Project Profile: Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link

The Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link is a landmark infrastructure project constructing the world’s longest immersed road and rail tunnel. This strategic corridor will establish a direct, high-capacity connection between Scandinavia and Central Europe, drastically reducing transit times. The 18 km tunnel under the Baltic Sea represents a significant leap forward in submerged tunnel engineering and cross-border transport integration.

Technical Specifications

The core of the project is an 18 km immersed tunnel (IMT) constructed from 89 massive, prefabricated concrete elements. Each standard element measures 217 meters long and weighs 73,000 tonnes. These are produced at a purpose-built factory in Rødbyhavn, floated into position, and submerged into a pre-dredged trench on the seabed. The tunnel houses a four-lane motorway (two tubes) and an electrified, twin-track railway (two tubes), plus a service gallery, ensuring complete separation of traffic and maximizing operational safety. The tunnel’s design includes advanced fire suppression systems rated for extreme temperatures up to 1350°C.

The project’s scope extends to significant landside railway upgrades. In Denmark, the 115 km Ringsted-Rødby line is being fully electrified and upgraded for 200 km/h operation, replacing diesel traction and enabling seamless integration with the European electric rail network. This involves realignment of tracks, construction of new bridges over the Guldborgsund and Masnedsund, and station modernization. These upgrades are essential for creating a high-speed, high-capacity freight and passenger corridor that will reduce the Hamburg-Copenhagen rail journey time by approximately two hours.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic European Corridor: The link creates the fastest, most direct route between Scandinavia and Central Europe, strengthening the TEN-T Scan-Med Corridor and boosting trade, logistics, and tourism.
• Engineering Benchmark: As the world’s longest immersed tunnel, the project pioneers new techniques in large-scale prefabrication, precise element positioning using GNSS, and sustainable material management, setting new standards for global infrastructure.
• Economic & Environmental Benefits: The project significantly cuts travel times for rail and road, reduces transportation costs, and lowers CO2 emissions by shifting traffic from ferries and longer land routes to an efficient, electrified rail line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel open?
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is scheduled to open for both road and rail traffic in 2029. Once operational, it will provide a continuous connection between Germany and Denmark, eliminating the need for a ferry crossing.

Who is building the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel?
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is being built by the Femern Link Contractors (FLC) consortium, which includes several leading European construction companies. The overall project is managed by Femern A/S, a subsidiary of the Danish state-owned Sund & Bælt Holding A/S.