King Frederick X of Denmark has inaugurated the first segment of the ambitious 18-kilometre Fehmarn Belt tunnel beneath the Baltic Sea, which will eventually link southern Denmark to northern Germany.
This groundbreaking project, once completed in 2029, will become the world’s longest submerged rail and road tunnel.
Named the Fehmarn Belt, this tunnel will enable cars to traverse the Baltic in just 10 minutes via four lanes, while trains will cover the distance in approximately seven minutes. The tunnel will connect the Danish island of Lolland with Germany’s Fehmarn island, significantly enhancing the transport link between the two countries.
The decision to build the tunnel was made in 2011, with construction commencing on the Danish side in July 2022 and a year later on the German side. The project, valued at an estimated $7.38 billion, is being funded by Denmark. The Danish government will later determine whether to impose tolls for tunnel usage. This project is part of Denmark’s broader infrastructure expansion, which in recent years has also included new road and rail connections to neighbouring Sweden and among its own islands.