The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: Regional Development Perspectives 3 PETER LUNDHUS AND CHRISTIAN WICHMANN MATTHIESSEN THE FEHMARNBELT TUNNEL: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES ABSTRACT One link was within Denmark; the other two Following these new strategies, the Trans- were between nations. One link connects European Transport Network was adopted The Fehmarnbelt Link between Denmark and heavy economic centres, one joins more thinly and implemented nationally in different ways. Germany, for which in September 2008 a populated regions and the last one links Some countries have been focussing on high- bilateral government treaty was signed, is the peripheral areas. Two of them (the Great Belt speed railway infrastructures, others have last of the three links uniting transportation Link – linking the Danish islands of Zealand improved airports and seaways, and in networks in Northern Europe. The three links and Funen and the Øresund Link between Denmark the three fixed links totalling a (the Great Belt and the Øresund Link being Denmark and Sweden) have been constructed €13 billion investment have been given high the other two) are impressive mega structures and are fully operational. The third – the priority in the national transport action plans. (bridges/ tunnels) spanning international Fehmarnbelt Link between Denmark and The revision of the guidelines and the new waterways. They concentrate traffic flows Germany – was decided in 2008 on a bilateral EU initiatives regarding “Green Corridors” and create strong transport corridors and government level. The three links are intends to substantially affect funding are the basis of new regional development impressive mega structures (bridges/ tunnels) programmes of the TEN-T towards fostering regimes. spanning international waterways. sustainable cross-border transport Their lengths are around 20 km (12 miles) infrastructure linking up to policies of In early 2011, following almost two years of each. They concentrate traffic flows and regional development, innovation and growth. extensive work on different conceptual create strong transport corridors. They are the The third fixed link, the Fehmarnbelt Link designs for the fixed link it was decided that basis of new regional development regimes. forms a giant step in the creation of a new an immersed tunnel should form the basis for “Ferries connect systems, fixed links unite North-European corridor. the continuous planning of the project, systems”. The concept of missing links has including the environmental impact studies. been adapted by the European Union in The first stage of the Northern European Completion of the link is scheduled for 2020. different large-scale strategies. integration project was completed with the opening in 1997/1998 of the fixed link across Denmark’s Storebælt (Great Belt) (Figure 2). INTRODUCTION Above: The present situation showing the ferry with This represented a giant leap into the future vehicles coming from Puttgarden (Germany) in terms of logistics and physical interaction In the 1980s The European Round Table of disembarking at Rødby (Denmark). The fixed between East and West Denmark. Although Industrialists identified 14 missing links in the Fehmarnbelt link will not only take over the transport networks across Storebælt already existed, transportation network of the continent. services now carried out by the ferries between Rødby the new link largely increased the potential Three of them were found around the Danish and Puttgarden. It will forge new relations between the for co- operation between the various parts island of Zealand (see Figures 1a and 1b). communities on both sides of the link. of Denmark. 4 Terra et Aqua | Number 123 | June 2011 The second stage, the Øresund Fixed Link was formed between Denmark, Germany and PLANNING THE FEHMARNBELT ready in 2000 (Figure 3). Despite the fact that Sweden for the purpose of exploiting the TUNNEL: STATE OF THE ART the Øresund Region’s major cities appeared opportunities created by the fixed In early 2011, following almost two year’s to provide good pre-bridge opportunities for Fehmarnbelt link. extensive work on different conceptual integration, only some fairly weak networks designs for the fixed link it was decided that had been established between Scania in The treaty on the construction of a fixed an immersed tunnel should form the basis for Sweden and Zealand in Denmark. The opening Fehmarnbelt link was signed by the Danish the continuous planning of the project of the Øresund Bridge/tunnel, therefore, and German governments on 3 September including the environmental impact studies. substantially improved potential networking 2008. The decision engendered strong focus However, alternative technical solutions – for across the strait and, following a somewhat on the development perspectives following example a cable-stayed bridge – are still being sluggish start, due to lack of updated the fixed link’s completion in 2020. considered and benchmarked. The decision on administrative rules, such links ever since have been steadily growing in a learning process. With the decision by Germany and Denmark SWEDE N to enter the third stage and build a fixed Figure 1a. Pre-fixed links: Fehmarnbelt link, the two nations not only Southern Scandinavia plus embarked on a large-scale project to improve parts of Northern Europe. the infrastructure of Northern Europe and Distance between the SCANIA reduce travel times, but also to stimulate Zealand archipelago and DENM A R K economic, cultural and social development in the rest of the region as Copenhagen Malmö the areas, regions and countries around the time: 1 hour equals 80 km. ZEALAND JUTLAND link. With the fixed Fehmarnbelt link, one of The three ovals indicate the the world’s mega projects in terms of logistics location of the ferry lines FUNEN LOLLAND-FALSTER will be completed. “The missing Scandinavian and the “Missing link” will no longer be “missing”. Scandinavian Links” as stated in the late 1980s. Kiel The fixed Fehmarnbelt link will result in Western oval (left): The Rostock SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN considerably changes. Although differences Great Belt. Eastern oval Lübeck between the German and Scandinavian (right): Øresund. Southern MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN Hamburg languages and the fact that the near areas are oval: Fehmarnbelt. Larger POL A N D sparsely populated will constitute barriers to oval at Øresund indicates GE R M A N Y 0 25 50 75 100 Km the area’s development. Nevertheless, the several ferry cross potential gains are significant. And one thing is certain: As new infrastructure projects of this size have always resulted in major changes, the link will create growth and development. S W EDE N The fixed Fehmarnbelt link will not only take over the transport services previously carried out by the ferries between Rødby and DENM A R K Puttgarden. No less important is the fact that SCANIA new relations between the communities on JUTLAND Malmö G Copenhagen Ø r r both sides of the link will be forged – e e a s t ZEALAND u n FUNEN B d e l between southern Zealand, Lolland and t Falster in Denmark and eastern Holstein in Germany as well as, further afield, between Figure 1b. Post-fixed links: LOLLAND-FALSTER F ehmarnbelt Copenhagen/the Øresund city and Hamburg. Southern Scandinavia plus Kiel As a result, new trading opportunities, new parts of Northern Europe. Rostock SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN forms of tourism, new jobs and new housing Solid line: Existing Lübeck opportunities will arise. In turn, this will open connections and roads. MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN Hamburg up new regional development perspectives Broken line: Fehmarnbelt POL A N D for the entire Fehmarnbelt region. Already a link to be constructed. GE R M A N Y 0 25 50 75 100 Km range of contacts and partnerships are being Distance in kilometres. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: Regional Development Perspectives 5 PETER LUNDHUS which solution is finally to be built will be environmental impact of the projects. Both a received his MSc in Civil Engineering, made pursuant to a specially enacted cable-stayed bridge and an immersed tunnel Technical University of Denmark and Public construction act in Denmark and subject to would impact the marine environment in the Negotiation, Harvard. He worked approval by the German authorities. The final Fehmarnbelt. The preliminary conclusion is that internationally for Christiani & Nielsen approval is expected in 2013. a bridge would have slightly more significant covering all aspects of design, bidding and permanent environmental impacts than an construction of civil engineering works, e.g., The recommendation of the immersed tunnel immersed tunnel. A number of the tunnels, bridges and harbour works in is based on a preliminary, comprehensive environmental impacts of a fixed link would be Europe, Asia and Africa from 1973-1988. assessment of, not least, environmental and on Natura 2000 sites. In such instances, EU He then joined the Great Belt Link A/S in safety issues including navigational safety but legislation prescribes that the least intrusive Denmark (1988-1992), in 1990 becoming also technical, traffic, time and financial issues. alternative must be selected. Project Director for the 8-km-long bored twin railway tunnel, a significant part of the The state-of-the-art tunnel under the In the interests of navigation safety, a tunnel 18-km-long, combined tunnel and bridge Fehmarnbelt is set to be one of the safest in clearly poses fewer risks than a bridge. toll-funded link for road and rail between the world (Figure 4) . With a length of about The Fehmarnbelt is a heavily trafficked stretch the eastern and western parts of Denmark. 18 km it will also be the world’s longest of water with 47,000 vessel transits per From 1992-2000 he was Technical Director combined road-rail tunnel to date. The tunnel annum (2006), including many tank vessels. in Øresundsbrokonsortiet, a joint Danish- will be five times the length of the Øresund In the coming years, shipping traffic in the Swedish company tasked with the tunnel (approx.