Fehmarn Belt Between Denmark and Germany Approved by German Court

The German Administrative Court on Nov. 3 approved the 18 km submerged Fehmarn Belt Link between Germany and Denmark which is due to open in 2029. This will be the world’s longest combined rail and road tunnel, passing through the Baltic Sea, connecting the metropolitan regions of Hamburg, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark. Danish Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht hailed the decision as a “big day not only for Danish-German relations, but also for Europe and for creating green transport corridors.” The four-lane, twin railway tunnel, will reduce travel by road to 10 minutes from the current hour-long ferry ride. The tunnel will be one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, crossing the Baltic Sea between the ports of Puttgarden in Germany and Rodby on the Danish island of Lolland. The cost of the infrastructure will be about EU8 billion.