Fehmarnbelt fixed link: the world’s longest road and rail immersed tunnel

Construction work is likely to start in 2020 on the €7 billion Fehmarnbelt fixed road and rail link between Denmark and Germany. On completion in 2028, the record-breaking 18 km long and 42 m wide immersed tunnel under the Baltic Sea will connect the Danish island of Lolland with the German island of Fehmarn. It will have a four-lane motorway and two-track railway in four separate traffic tubes. Owner Femern A/S has set high standards for availability, maintainability and safety of the link. This paper introduces the project and describes some of the innovative engineering solutions developed during the concept design.