Largest underwater tunnel ?
This idea from 2011 has come a long way. Initiated by Denmark, work has been underway there for nearly 3 years now. The aim? To link Denmark to Germany by road in less than 10 minutes for 10,000 vehicles and 60 trains a day. How is this to be achieved? With the help of the longest underwater tunnel ever built! Scheduled for completion in 2029, we’re almost halfway through the project. Time for us to take a look back at this incredible human construction.
1/A neighbour of the Channel Tunnel, but not a twin
Unlike its Franco-English counterpart, the Fehmarn Belt tunnel was not dug below sea level, but laid on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. The water was dredged along the 18km separating the two coasts to install prefabricated concrete elements.
The success of such a project, scheduled to open in 2029, could launch a wave of future construction. Other structures of this kind would then see the light of day, some of which are already under study: a link between Sicily and Italy, between Helsinhi and Tallinn or between Spain and Morocco! The whole of Europe is turning its attention to the Danes and their innovative construction method.
A few days ago, Frederik X, King of Denmark, inaugurated the first section of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, which is due to open on 17 June 2024 (see photo – AFP underwater tunnel).
2/At what cost and under what conditions?
Let’s not beat about the bush. To date, the costs incurred by Danish citizens amount to around 5 billion euros, or 55.1 billion kroner. The European Union is contributing around €1 billion to the project. As with any construction project, the budget is likely to be revised upwards between now and the opening. Estimates put it at €7 billion.
To recoup this investment, the tunnel will have to be paid for. For the moment, the amount of the toll has not yet been defined by the Danish authorities.
The subject of debate in Europe and in Denmark is the environmental issue. It involves moving tonnes of underwater sand and depositing concrete blocks in the depths. There are two opposing viewpoints:
– On the one hand, there are those who believe that this structure will have harmful consequences and that it will be impossible to conserve the region’s biodiversity once the tunnel is open.
– On the other, the construction company assures us that these effects will only be temporary, and that once the structure is in place, nature will reclaim its rights over the submerged blocks.
To help you make up your own mind, euronews.com has produced a short video explaining all the opinions and details of the construction of an underwater tunnel : (in french with english subtitles)
To find out more
You can find this article on underwater tunnel and others linked to it in our dedicated section, by clicking here: News & Blog
