New bridge to link Germany and Denmark

An improved link in the north-south trans-European motorway chain has been agreed, between Germany and Denmark. A 20 kms road and rail bridge will cut the four-and-a-half hour trip from Hamburg to Copenhagen by one hour.

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said:

“I hope the bridge will make this region more attractive, although not during construction! That will be a difficult time for both countries. But this new link will guarantee increased tourism and spending.”

His Danish counterpart Carina Christensen said:

“We looked closely at what higher oil prices would mean for traffic levels, but we found they would not change much, so we will build the bridge.”

The bridge over the Fehmarn Strait will cost more than five billion euros, funded by tolls. It’s expected to open in 2018.

Not everyone is cheering; greens say it will increase pollution, although engineers insist it will cut CO2 emissions compared with ferries crossing the strait now.

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