Construction of the Fehmarn Belt fixed link tunnel between Denmark and Germany can finally proceed after a two-year delay, according to reports from Swedish media. The project, which was originally scheduled to begin tunnel element installation in summer 2024, faced delays due to approval processes for specialized construction vessels. Danish maritime authorities have now approved the custom-built ships Ivy 1 and 2, allowing tunnel construction to begin this spring.
The tunnel will consist of 89 elements, each over 200 meters long, that must be precisely lowered and connected on the seabed of the Fehmarn Belt strait. The new connection is expected to open in approximately five years and will nearly halve travel time from Malmö and Copenhagen to Hamburg. Project owner Sund & Bælt confirmed the development in a press statement, marking a significant milestone for the infrastructure project that will create a direct link between Scandinavia and Central Europe.