The world has never seen a structure like this before. Just a few hours’ drive from Poland, the Fehmarnbelt will connect Denmark and Germany and become the longest underwater tunnel on Earth. It is a project meant to prove that the boundaries of engineering are shifting faster than many of us expect.
This is not some futuristic vision – work is already underway, and quite close to Poland. Experts already consider this structure one of the largest and most important engineering projects on the Old Continent. It is expected to be completed in just three years. Interestingly, very little is being said about it in Poland.
A lot will also change for Poles
The tunnel will be about 18 kilometers long and will be laid on the seabed of the Fehmarnbelt strait. It is not drilled through rock like traditional tunnels, but built from enormous prefabricated elements, which are then lowered to the seabed and connected like giant building blocks. Each of these elements weighs as much as the largest cargo ships. This is impressive even for people who have already seen many major construction projects.
What is all this for? To shorten the journey between Germany and Denmark from the current 45-minute ferry crossing to about 10 minutes by car and 7 minutes by train. The construction of this underwater colossus will change not only local traffic but transport across this part of Europe as a whole. A great deal will also change for Poles. Entirely new travel possibilities will emerge. We will reach Scandinavia faster, rail connections with the northern part of the continent will improve significantly, and that region will open up to us.
Engineering on an unimaginable scale
The scale of the project is enormous. Huge factories are being built on both sides of the strait, where the tunnel elements are produced. Each one is over 200 meters long and equipped with finished road lanes, railway tracks, and safety systems. When an element is ready, it is towed into place, submerged, and precisely positioned on the prepared seabed. The entire structure must be watertight, stable, and resistant to marine conditions. This is engineering at a level that is hard to imagine until you see photos from the construction site.
Denmark is footing the bill
The tunnel will have four traffic lanes and a double-track railway line. This will relieve ferry traffic, reduce emissions, and shorten freight transport times between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. It is therefore not just a “tunnel for drivers,” but part of a larger puzzle designed to streamline trade and communication across the continent.
Interestingly, Denmark and Germany are working on this project together, and the investment is financed mainly by the Danish side. This shows how strategic this connection is for Scandinavians.
The world’s longest tunnel in numbers:
18 km in length – the length of the tunnel connecting Denmark and Germany.
2029 – the planned opening year.
10 minutes by car – the travel time between the two countries.
7 minutes by train – the time to pass through the entire tunnel by rail.
79 prefabricated elements – from which the structure will be built (standard + special).
217 meters in length – the length of each standard tunnel element.
73,000 tons – the weight of a single element (comparable to the largest ships).
4 traffic lanes – two in each direction.
2 railway tracks – providing a fast connection between Denmark and Germany.
€7.1 billion – the estimated cost of the project (financed mainly by Denmark).
15 km of factories – the area occupied by the tunnel element production facilities in Rødbyhavn.
About 3,000 workers – involved in construction at peak times.