As part of the preparations for the Fehmarnbelt fixed link, Femern A/S has pre-qualified a number of international consultancy groups to tender for the position as technical consultants for the detailed planning of the future fixed link across Fehmarnbelt

A bridge solution, in the form of a cable-stayed bridge, has been selected as the preferred technical solution for crossing the 19 km wide strait between Denmark and Germany. As an equally viable alternative, however, an immersed tunnel will also be considered, i.e. to clarify and compare the environmental advantages and disadvantages of these technical solutions.

In order to maximise the results during the planning stage, Femern A/S has decided to divide the consultancy functions into two separate tasks – one for the bridge project and one for the tunnel project.

As a result, two consultancy groups will submit tenders although only one of the projects will eventually be undertaken.

Both the bridge and tunnel projects will be incorporated into the extensive Environmental Impact Assessment process.

The outcome of the planning process and the EIA assessment represent important aspects of the decision basis upon which the final choice of the link’s precise alignment and the technical solution will be made.

Femern A/S has pre-qualified four groups who are invited to tender for the bridge project and three for the tunnel project. The consultant for the bridge project will be selected first and cannot subsequently win the tender for the planning of the tunnel project.

Femern A/S expects to receive bids from the pre-qualified consultancy consortia in December this year and to sign contracts with the winners of the tender at the beginning of 2009.

Prequalification of the technical consultants is being conducted in accordance with the regulations for limited tenders under the EU’s directive concerning tenders for the public purchasing of goods contracts, public services contracts and public building and construction contracts.

Following the state treaty signed between Germany and Denmark on September 3, 2008 for the construction of a fixed link across Fehmarnbelt, the parliaments of the two countries will now ratify the state treaty. In Germany, ratification is expected to take place in 2009. In Denmark, parliament is expected to ratify the state treaty by passing a new planning act in its next session, i.e. 2008 / 2009.

The construction stage for the Fehmarnbelt is expected to begin in 2012 with the aim of opening the link in 2018.

The pre-qualified groups for the bridge project are:

Joint venture consisting of
- Cowi A/S (DK)
- Obermeyer Planen + Beraten GmbH (DE)
with the following sub-consultants
- Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner, Beratende Ingenieure VBI, Gmbh (DE)
- Flint & Neill Partnership (UK)
- Dissing + Weitling A/S (DK)

Partnership consisting of
- Grontmij│Carl Bro A/S (DK)
- Faber Maunsell Ltd. (UK)
- Schlaich Bergermann und Partner (DE)
- BUNG (DE)
- Grontmij│BGS (DE)
- Capita Symonds (UK)

Fehmarnbelt Design Group, consortium consisting of
- Halcrow Group Ltd. (UK)
- Mott MacDonald Ltd (UK)
- Foster + Partners (UK)
- NIRAS A/S (DK)
- DB International GmbH (DE)

Joint venture consisting of
- Rambøll Danmark A/S (DK)
- Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd. (UK)
with the following sub-consultants
- Ammann & Whitney (US)
- Svend Ole Hansen (DK)
- WTM Engineers (DE)
- HTG Ingenieurbüro für Bauwesen (DE)
- Wilkinson Eyre Architects (UK)
- Schönherr Landskab (DK)
and individual experts
- Fabione Brancaleoni (I)
- Yozo Fujino (J)
- Satoshi Kashima (J)

The pre-qualified groups for the tunnel project are:

Joint venture consisting of
- Cowi A/S (DK)
- Obermeyer Planen + Beraten GmbH (DE)
with the following sub-consultants
- Flint & Neill Partnership (UK)
- Dissing + Weitling A/S (DK)

Partnership consisting of
- Grontmij│Carl Bro A/S (DK)
- Faber Maunsell Ltd (UK)
- BUNG (DE)
- Grontmij│BGS (DE)
- Capita Symonds (UK)

Joint venture consisting of
- Rambøll Danmark A/S (DK)
- Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd (UK)
- Tunnel Engineering Consultant (NL)
with the following sub-consultants
- WTM Engineers (DE)
- HTG Ingenieurbüro für Bauwesen (DE)
- Wilkinson Eyre Architects (UK)
- Schönherr Landskab (DK)

For further information, please contact Claus Dynesen, Project Director, Femern A/S + 45 33 41 63 04.