A monumental engineering undertaking is underway that may reshape the transport panorama of Europe. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, an undersea construction connecting Denmark and Germany, is poised to develop into the world’s longest street and rail tunnel, in addition to the longest “immersed” tunnel ever constructed.
At 18 kilometres (11.2 miles), the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel will carry two lanes of street visitors and two electrified rail traces beneath one of many world’s busiest transport lanes. Not like conventional tunnels which are excavated by strong earth, the Fehmarnbelt will probably be constructed utilizing prefabricated concrete sections which are floated to the seafloor, linked collectively, and submerged in a trench.
The undertaking is about to drastically lower journey instances between Denmark and Germany, decreasing a 45-minute ferry trip to only 10 minutes by automobile and seven minutes by prepare. The tunnel will halve the present journey time between Hamburg and Copenhagen, making it a game-changer for each passenger and freight transport.
Presently below building with an estimated price of €7.4 billion ($7.7 billion), the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is a colossal endeavor. The primary precast concrete sections, generally known as “parts,” had been not too long ago accomplished in February 2025 at a manufacturing unit in Rødbyhavn, Denmark, marking a key milestone.
These large tunnel sections are 217 metres lengthy, 42 metres broad, and 9 metres deep, every weighing an astounding 73,000 tonnes – the equal of 10 Eiffel Towers.
Development of the tunnel’s portals at Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden is progressing, with the objective of finishing the undertaking by 2029. The tunnel is predicted to not solely improve transport effectivity but additionally foster larger tourism, providing guests extra handy entry to the Scandinavian area.
Mads Schreiner, Worldwide Market Director at VisitDenmark, anticipates a lift in self-drive tourism, weekend getaways, and eco-friendly journey choices like biking and prepare tourism.
Nevertheless, the huge undertaking just isn’t with out environmental issues. Regardless of a number of authorized challenges associated to its environmental influence, Femern A/S, the Danish firm overseeing the undertaking, is dedicated to mitigating any antagonistic results. The corporate has already begun creating new pure areas, corresponding to wetlands and grasslands, to offset the environmental footprint.
As soon as accomplished, the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel won’t solely be a marvel of engineering but additionally a pivotal hyperlink in European transport infrastructure, basically altering how folks and items transfer throughout the continent.