Facts on the tunnel

What is being done to protect the environment during the building and construction phase and when the fixed link is open?

Building the fixed Fehmarnbelt link with a minimum impact for the environment has the highest of priorities. As with the Great Belt and Øresund fixed links, comprehensive and detailed studies of the environmental impact will be carried out. Above all, experiences made with regard to effective environmental protection from the Great Belt and Øresund projects are being used.

What is done to prevent or reduce the impact on bird life and porpoises?

As described in the scoping report, Femern A/S is currently conducting extensive studies on bird life and on the marine mammals living in the Fehmarnbelt. The obtained results will for example help to determine the effects a fixed link may have on bird migration and porpoises. For instance, it is investigated to what extent a bridge can affect the trajectory of migrant birds, and if underwater sound during the construction phase will lead to a change in the porpoises’ behaviour or distribution. Therefore, lasting effects on bird life and marine mammals can also be evaluated on the basis of these investigations. The experience from Great Belt and Øresund documents that “artificial reefs” may develop as a consequence of underwater construction elements. This can even improve living conditions for birds and marine mammals in comparison to pre-fixed link conditions, due to the formation of new, i.e. artificial, habitat.