Work to begin on world’s longest immersed tunnel linking Denmark and Germany

Denmark has approved the start of construction for what will become the longest tunnel of its kind, connecting it with Germany across a strait in the Baltic.

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Denmark has approved the start of construction for what will become the longest tunnel of its kind, connecting it with Germany across a strait in the Baltic.

Work on the Danish side of the world’s longest immersed tunnel is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2021, Denmark’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement on April 24.

The Femern Belt link will connect the Danish island of Lolland and Puttgarden, a village and ferry harbor on the island of Fehmarn in Northern Germany.

The project is estimated to cost 52.6 billion Danish kroner, or US$7.6 billion, and will include an 18-kilometer electrified double-track railway and four motorway lanes.

When completed it will shorten the journey across the Femern Belt to 10 minutes by car or seven minutes by train, compared to today’s 45-minute ferry crossing.

It is expected to open for traffic in mid-2029, New Europe reports, citing a press conference by Denmark’s Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Construction of factory harbor 2.

Location of Femern Belt link on a map 3.

Tunnel made from precast sections 3.

Excavation of tunnel trench 4.

Tunnel sections tugged from work harbor 5.

Immersion of tunnel elements into trench 6.

Cross section views of completed tunnel VOICEOVER (in English): “Work on the Danish side of the world’s longest immersed tunnel is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2021, Denmark’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement on April 24.” “The Femern Belt link will connect the Danish island of Lolland and Puttgarden, a village and ferry harbor on the island of Fehmarn in Northern Germany.” “First, a 60-meter wide, 16-meter deep, trench will be excavated from the floor of the Baltic Sea.” “Unlike other underwater tunnels, like the Channel Tunnel or Japan’s Seikan Tunnel, which are bored tunnels, the Femern Belt link will be made from precast tunnel sections immersed in a trench 35 meters beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea.” “Each tunnel section will be more than 40 meters wide and up to 15 meters deep and weigh 73,000 tonnes.” “They will be cast in a factory on the Danish side and towed by tug boats to the immersion site.

Immersion pontoons will be used to lower the tunnel sections down into the trench.” “The project is estimated to cost 52.6 billion Danish kroner, or US$7.6 billion, and will include an 18-kilometer electrified double-track railway and four motorway lanes.” “It will shorten the journey across the Femern Belt to 10 minutes by car or seven minutes by train, compared to today’s 45-minute ferry crossing.” “It is expected to open for traffic in mid-2029.” SOURCES: Femern A/S, The Engineer, New Europe, The New York Times https://femern.com/en https://www.theengineer.co.uk/total-immersion-the-worlds-longest-immersed-tunnel/ https://www.neweurope.eu/article/denmark-greenlights-start-of-work-for-underwater-tunnel-to-germany/ https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/04/24/world/europe/24reuters-denmark-germany-infrastructure.html *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377