Danish politicians favour Baltic Sea tunnel link to Germany

Feb 1, 2011, 16:35 GMT

Copenhagen - An 18-kilometre long tunnel under the Baltic Sea was the preferred option to link Denmark and Germany, Danish politicians said Tuesday.

'An immersed tunnel is something we have experience of,' Transport Minister Hans Christian Schmidt said after meeting with members of the transport committee.

The two countries have for years discussed establishing fixed road- and rail link across the Fehmarn Belt, a strait between the Danish island of Lolland and the German island of Fehmarn.

It is estimated that the link would cost 5.1 billion euros (7 billion dollars) and reduce travel times between Scandinavia and mainland Europe. The project is envisaged to be completed in 2020.

A final decision on a tunnel or bridge link is pending.

Denmark was set to carry most of the costs, and hoped to recoup the costs from a toll similar to current ferry fares.

The tunnel option was also favoured by the Danish state-owned company Femern A/S that is in charge of the planning of the fixed link.

A bridge link has also been considered but the tunnel option appeared to have less harmful affect on the environment, while the costs for both options were deemed roughly the same.

In addition, the tunnel is expected to prove safer than a bridge and to create jobs in Denmark

Danish conservationists also favour a tunnel, fearing that seabirds and migrating birds will be disturbed by the bridge or collide with it.

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