An ambitious project is underway to improve connectivity between the German island of Fehmarn and Danish island of Lolland, seeking to significantly reduce travel time between the two countries.
The Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, known as the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, in Portuguese, is becoming the largest underwater tunnel in the world, built without the need for drilling machines.
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With the capacity to accommodate trains and automobiles, the project is estimated to cost around 7 billion euros, the equivalent of more than R$37 billion, and is considered a notable achievement for engineering European.
The main objective of the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link is to speed up connections between the Germany and the Denmark, facilitating the transport of passengers and cargo between the two countries, on a route of around 18 kilometers.
Compared to the current ferry crossing of approximately 45 minutes, the tunnel will offer a much faster alternative, with just a 7-minute train journey and 10 by car.
The project is distinguished by not relying on drilling machines, unlike the Eurotunnel, which connects England and France, although it is much longer — 50 kilometers.
Instead, the German route will be designed with pre-built sections, which will be assembled and submerged during the construction process.
After a decade of meticulous planning, a temporary port has been established at the Danish end of the tunnel, where 89 giant structures are being built.
Each of these sections is an impressive 217 meters long and weighs an incredible 73,500 tons. When completed, they will be sunk with large waterproof bulkheads at the ends to ensure a seal against water ingress.
In this way, the sections can be “launched”, submerged and carefully fitted together under the waters of the Baltic Sea.
Although the opening is only scheduled for 2029, the Danish company responsible for the project, Femern A/S, estimates that the first section of the tunnel will be ready to be submerged at the beginning 2024.
With the completion of the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, there is expected to be a significant boost to trade and tourism between Germany and Denmark, in addition to reducing the need for time-consuming ferry crossings.
