As described last week here on FemernReport, the Femern project did not take into account a motorway connection to Rødby and Holeby on the E47 motorway, new alignment in connection with the tunnel. It is somewhat impractical, to say the least, as the Ringsted-Femern railway’s only station on Lolland will be located in Holeby.
The Roads Directorate has drawn up a proposal for a solution involving a connection facility a little east of Rødby. But that location is outside the Fehmarn project, and it is therefore basically the municipality of Lolland that must finance it if the municipality wants to have a connection to the motorway.
Possible financing from a special pool
Now, however, the Ministry of Transport is meeting Lolland Municipality at least a little. In a written response to FemernReport, the ministry states that a special pool under the government’s Infrastructure Plan 2035 would possibly be able to finance the facility. If, then, political agreement can be reached on it in the Folketing.
“The Roads Directorate has started sketch planning of a new connection facility to be established in connection with the new bridge that carries Lundegaardsvej over the E47. On the basis of the sketch design and a subsequent environmental screening, a political decision must be taken on the solution and on the possibility of financing the connection facility.
Requires independent political decision
The facility is not part of the Fehmarn Belt project, and there is no authority in the Construction and Operation Act for the Fehmarn Belt project to carry out the facility. It will thus depend on an independent political decision whether the necessary funding can be found, for example under the auspices of the country and city pool under Infrastructure Plan 2035, to finance the installation and the necessary capacity in the affected road network.
The pool is earmarked for the state road network with a view to creating a better connection between country and city and is paid out once a year by the conciliation circle behind the road agreement under the Infrastructure Plan 2035,” writes the Ministry of Transport.
Contains “Some inappropriateness”
The ministry itself, in a so-called pedigree sheet sent to Lolland Municipality, described the situation as containing “some inadequacies”. An acquaintance from the Ministry of Transport now elaborates on that message:
“With regard to the “improperties”, as stated in the master sheet prepared by the Road Directorate, it must be understood that in the connection facility described in the Construction and Operation Act no account was taken of securing access roads between the motorway and the future station at Holeby. The proposed new connection facility must ensure that,” the ministry’s reply states.
Cost of DKK 20-30 million
The response from the ministry is noted with satisfaction by Lolland Municipality, which estimates that a connection facility at Rødby will cost the municipality between DKK 20-30 million: – We have only taken note of the matter, and we do not think that it is the municipality that has to pay. Now we are just looking forward to moving forward, says Tine Vinther Clausen (V), who chairs Lolland Municipality’s committee for climate, technology and the environment.
