By rosebell
While the date of commencing work on the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel’s Danish portal was 2022, construction is almost completed and now the 160m-long cut-and-cover tunnel is being covered with soil and the covered section will blend into the surrounding landscape over the time.
According to Sund & Bælt construction manager Christian Oldenburg: “The covering of the tunnel on land marked another step forward in Denmark’s largest infrastructure project. The covering of the tunnel is the preliminary culmination of three years of work on establishing the tunnel portal, which is designed to ensure a safe and secure transition for traffic entering and exiting the tunnel under the Fehmarnbelt. At the same time, it highlights the strong collaboration on the tunnel portal with the main contractor, Femern Link Contractors.”
The construction of the 800m-long ramp that is due to guide trains into the tunnel is undergoing by Femern Link Contractors, whereas the final earthworks are being completed above the land-based tunnel sections and so far, 300m of the ramp have been completed.
Work is also under way on an operations building, which will later house facilities for operating personnel. From there, the tunnel’s systems and safety will be monitored.
Since previous year, the front section of the portal has been under water on the German side of the tunnel at Puttgarden on Fehmarn, and work on the operations building at the German portal is also well advanced. It is going to house systems for the operation of the tunnel but will not be regularly staffed by personnel.
Following completing both tunnel portals, they are slated to be ready for the immersing and connecting of the first tunnel elements. However, before this process can begin, the specially built immersion vessels, Ivy 1 and 2, must undergo their final tests and obtain all the necessary permits. Sund & Bælt expects this to be finalised later this year.
The first tunnel element to be immersed will be on the Danish side and connected to the tunnel portal at Rødbyhavn.
