Muddy seabed in the Little Belt teases the Als-Fyn connection
The Roads Directorate and Sund & Bælt are in full swing with the feasibility studies for a possible fixed connection between Als and Funen. Graphics: Google Maps/Bernt Hertz JensenGraphics: Google Maps/Bernt Hertz Jensen
Bernt Hertz JensenBerntHertz Jensen
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In the political agreement on Infrastructure Plan 2035, it was agreed that Sund & Bælt should carry out a preliminary study of the possibility of a fixed connection over or under the Little Belt between Als and Funen. Now the preliminary analyzes show that the location approximately between Bøjden and Fynshav, which was originally in mind, is not suitable for bridge or tunnel construction.
Three problems with the location There are three conditions that make it difficult to establish the connection where the distance is shortest: the seabed, ship traffic and nature protection.
The seabed is too soft The seabed is the biggest engineering challenge. The analyzes have shown that it mainly consists of fine-grained sand and silt. Silt is a flattened sediment layer consisting of a mixture of organic material and clay. It is great for researchers who want to analyze prehistoric animal and plant life and climate changes over many millions of years. But the soft and muddy bottom is not suitable either for digging or building in.
Risk of collision Ship traffic is a safety problem. The Little Belt is the deepest passage from the Baltic Sea out into the Kattegat, so even though the belt, at its narrowest point, is only one kilometer wide, and it is a detour compared to the Øresund or Langelandsbælt/Greater Belt, many large, commercial ships choose that route . This entails a significant risk of collisions.
Natura 2000 area The third and final problem is that the location between Bøjden and Fynshav is a Natura 2000 area. Natura 2000 is a network of nature protected areas in the EU, and building a bridge or tunnel in a Natura 2000 area will also cause problems.
Looking north and northwest Against this background, the conciliation circle behind Infrastructure Plan 2035 has now agreed that the area for the feasibility study can be expanded to the north and northwest up to the waters between Helnæs and Als.
Området for forundersøgelsen af en mulig fast forbindelse mellem Als og Fyn skal udvides. Illustration: Sund & Bælt.
Requires a parliamentary resolution Although the feasibility study for an Als-Fyn connection is part of the Infrastructure Plan 2035, the connection itself is not. This means that a possible connection between Als and Funen must be decided separately by the Folketinget. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in 2024.
