The king of Denmark inaugurated the first element of Puttgarden – Rødby tunnel

Map showing the route of Fehmarn Belt tunnel. Source: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The underwater tunnel that will connect Germany with Denmark is the first of its kind in the world. This mega-project is the largest infrastructure undertaking in Denmark's history.

Construction work on the Fehmarn Tunnel began in 2021 in Rødbyhavn. It took three years to build the factory where 217 meters long elements of the tunnel are developed. Each one of them weights 73 500 tones. The structures are made of metal rods and later reinforced with concrete. There will be 89 of these structures. Finished elements will be immersed in the sea with the help of specialized vessels that are built in the Gdynia shipyard.

The Puttgarden – Rødby tunnel will have four lanes for vehicles and one rail road. The tunnel will be 18 kilometers long. Journey by car will last 10 minutes and journey by rail 7 minutes. Currently ferry crossing on the route takes 45 minutes.

The cost of investment is estimated to be around 55,1 billion Danish krones, which is around 8 billion American dollars. The tunnel will be subject to a toll, as well the Øresund Bridge, which has already paid for itself since its opening in 2000. The price of a ticket for the Fehmarn Tunnel has not yet been announced.

On 17 June 2024, King Frederik X of Denmark attended the inauguration ceremony of the first section of the tunnel. The monarch unveiled a memorial plaque, which will be set up in the entrance of finished tunnel. The king placed a coin with his image and memorabilia of the people who took part in the construction of the tunnel were placed inside.

Source:
[media]