Minister-President Günther visits German tunnel construction site
This visit marked a first for Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister-President: Since construction began on the Fehmarnbelt tunnel near Puttgarden in 2021, Daniel Günther had not previously seen the site in person. Together with Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund &Bælt, the parent company of Femern A/S, and Matthias Laubenstein, contract director for the Fehmarnbelt project and responsible for tunnel portals and ramps, Daniel Günther was able to take a look at the future entrance to the Fehmarnbelt tunnel on the German side.
Work in this area is already well advanced. Over 80 per cent of the structural work in the portal area has been completed. A total of 450 metres of tunnel are built here using the cut and cover-method, followed by a 150-metre light transition zone. Recesses in the ceiling will ensure a smooth transition between daylight and the light in the tunnel. The northernmost section of the tunnel has been protruding into the Baltic Sea since autumn 2024. It will later be connected to the first immersed element on the German side.
The elements for the 18-kilometre-long Fehmarnbelt tunnel are being built at the tunnel factory near Rødbyhavn. From there, they are being transported into the Fehmarnbelt by a special immersion pontoon and carefully immersed into the tunnel trench. The immersion pontoon is custom-made and was built especially for our project. This highly complex pontoon arrived at our project site with some delay. Since then, the two pontoons have been undergoing intensive testing and approval by the authorities, with certification nearing completion. This will be followed by final preparations and the immersion of the first tunnel element.
Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund & Bælt, emphasised the importance of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel for the European transport network: "I am very pleased to be able to convey the scale and significance of this project to the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will create an important direct link between Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. This will benefit not only the people on both sides of the Fehmarnbelt, but also the whole of Europe. The first tunnel element on the Danish side will be immersed this year, and the fixed link between Denmark and Germany, between Scandinavia and Europe, will continue to take shape. A vision is now becoming reality."
The progress made on the German construction site for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel was also visible during the joint visit to the viewing terrace right next to the construction site. In addition to the view of the German tunnel portal, there was a direct view of two bridges completed last summer. These will enable road and rail traffic to enter the tunnel in the future.
Minister-President Daniel Günther looks forward to the new link: “The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will create something special in the Baltic Sea region. It offers us in Schleswig-Holstein the opportunity to grow even closer to our Scandinavian neighbours in future — culturally, economically and socially.”
In addition to Daniel Günther, East Holstein District Administrator Timo Gaarz, Mayor Jörg Weber (Fehmarn), Mayor Peer Knöfler (Großenbrode), Mayor Kuno Brandt (Heiligenhafen) and Thomas Keller, spokesperson for the project advisory board, also took part in the site visit. This provided opportunities for joint discussions and exchanges among the participants.
Following the site visit, Minister-President Günther attended the New Year's reception of Femern A/S at the Infocenter in Burg. In his welcoming speech to the approximately 100 guests, he emphasised the great importance of the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link for Schleswig-Holstein. The past has shown that dialogue and understanding are essential for successful implementation. For him, this is a strong incentive to continue working closely together in the future.
