In about three years, preparations for one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe will be starting to take shape, when the first spade is expected to break ground on the 19 km Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link between Germany and Denmark.

Over the construction period of about six years, an expected six to seven thousand people will be involved in the building process and the handling of enormous amounts of material and equipment for the production of bridge or tunnel elements.

“As yet we do not know whether we will be building a bridge or a tunnel. But we know in general terms the scope and requirements of future production and construction sites, whatever the technical solution chosen. Now is the time to begin thinking about attracting one of these production sites, says Peter Lundhus, Managing Director of Femern A/S.

Femern A/S has today published two reports on the requirements for production sites and construction sites. The reports contain profiles of requirements for production sites of bridge or tunnel elements and for the construction sites. Construction sites will be located close to the alignment at the shores of Fehmarn and Lolland, while the production sites can be further away from the alignment and do not need to be placed on the islands of Fehmarn or Lolland.

Construction is expected to begin in 2013 and last until the end of 2018. In order to prepare being a part of the contractors’ tenders now is the time to contemplate housing one of these production sites.

“By publishing these reports we present our assessment of these requirements to authorities, companies and the general public. In this way, any party interested in attracting a large production facility will have ample opportunity to discuss and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of locating major production sites in a given local area", says Lundhus.

The contractors who will win the contracts for the building of the fixed link will make the final decision of the location of their production sites. However, the contractors will be influenced in their choice on market conditions such as accessibility, price and availability of manpower. It is therefore up to any region wishing to attract the contractors to raise their profile and together with Femern A/S ensure that the necessary planning together with permits and infrastructure are in place.

It is expected that the Fehmarnbelt link construction works will be divided into at least three major contracts, implying the requirement of a number of production sites, probably four to six in all.

Bridge units would most effectively be produced on land as far as possible, rather than as offshore construction. Large pylons would nonetheless have to be cast on site in the Fehmarnbelt itself. An immersed tunnel would have to be produced entirely on land.

Concrete elements, such as the foundations and pillars for a bridge or alternatively the tunnel elements, are best manufactured within an 80 – 120 km radius of the alignment of the fixed link. This means that many areas in Germany and Denmark may come into consideration, but the Baltic Region as a whole is relevant.

A bridge superstructure could in principle be manufactured anywhere in the world and shipped to the Fehmarnbelt in small sections. The superstructure would be a steel construction made by a large number of welders using highly specialised and expensive facilities. The cost of subsequent transport over long distances is thus less important but involves shipping risks.

The cost of the coast-to-coast part of the fixed link is in 2008-prices estimated at 4.5 billion euro for a bridge and 5.5 billion euro for a tunnel.

In the next couple of years, Femern A/S will instigate regulatory and environmental processing in Germany and Denmark and will also be drafting both bridge and tunnel design proposals. The Danish parliament will then have to pass a Construction Act relating to the technical solution and the alignment before construction can commence. The objective is to complete the fixed link in 2018.

The two reports ‘Outline of possible production sites’ and ‘Outline of possible construction sites’ and press illustrations can be found at www.femern.com.

For more information:
Managing Director of Femern A/S, Peter Lundhus, Tel. +45 33 41 63 02, plu@femern.dk

Press contact:
Germany: Inga Karten, Femern A/S, +49 30 288 76 59 38, ikn@femern.de
Denmark: Karsten Holmegaard, Femern A/S, +45  33 41 63 35, kho@femern.dk