The corridor for developing and assessing route options ranges from an area West to an area East of both harbours of Puttgarden and Rødbyhavn. Route options connecting points West of Puttgarden and West of Rødbyhavn (West-West), East of Puttgarden and East of Rødbyhavn (East-East) and other options, e.g. across from East to West etc are under consideration (see illustration below). The analysis is required according to national legislation as part of the plan approval processes of both countries.

An answer to the question which corridor has the lowest impact will be provided by a set of criteria such as, among others: environmental sensitivity including Natura 2000 sites, navigational safety , existing underwater facilities, impact on regional and urban development as well as on rural settlements, technical possibilities including access to the existing transport infrastructure network, and cost aspects. Route options are considered for both bridge and tunnel solutions.

Each route option is being developed, initially assessed, optimised and assessed again, until the first – most unfavourable – route options can be deselected. The remaining route options will then be assessed further, taking into consideration criteria with gradually increasing levels of detail. This carefully documented process will finally lead to only one or few route options with the lowest impact which will be presented as Femern A/S’ preferred route(s). This sophisticated selection process is expected to continue until the end of 2010.  The final alignment will be decided upon by the competent Danish and German authorities as part of the plan approvals of the project.