By Rose Bell
The opening process of the first element of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, to be submerged on the Danish side, is due to be done by Denmark’s King.
On June 17, during a ceremony King Frederik X will inaugurate this element, which will form the first 217m of the tunnel between Denmark and Germany, will be submerged later this year.
According to Sund & Bælt CEO Mikkel Hemmingsen: “The inauguration of the first tunnel element is a significant milestone in the project. We’re very proud that HM King Frederik X has chosen to mark this day with us.”
During his visit, the King will meet some of the young apprentices involved in building the world’s longest immersed tunnel. The creation of 500 full-time apprenticeships is included in construction contracts for the project.
Including the thoughts and items of people who have helped to build and design the first tunnel element, a time capsule containing will be created on June 17, and it is due to be sealed and placed in the Fehmarnbelt project’s Exhibition Centre before being buried near the tunnel portal.
The 79 large tunnel elements and 10 special concrete elements, currently under production at a special facility in Rødbyhavn on Lolland, the largest construction site in Northern Europe, will be contents of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel.
Linking Rødbyhavn on Lolland in Denmark and Puttgarden on the German island of Femern, the tunnel beneath the Baltic Sea will be 18km-long.
