Fehmarn Sound Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Fehmarn Sound Bridge
Official Name:Fehmarnsundbrücke
Crosses:Fehmarn Sound
Mainspan:2480NaN0
Length:9630NaN0
Width:210NaN0
Height:670NaN0
Clearance:220NaN0
Open:30 April 1963
Coordinates:54.4014°N 11.1125°W

The Fehmarn Sound Bridge (German: Fehmarnsundbrücke) connects the German island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea with the German mainland near Großenbrode.[1]

Description

The 963adj=midNaNadj=mid crossing includes the 248adj=midNaNadj=mid network arch bridge which carries road and rail over the 1300m (4,300feet) Fehmarn Sound. Construction began in 1958 and the bridge was opened on April 30, 1963. The main span is 22m (72feet) above the sea, which allows shipping to pass through. The bridge is constructed of steel and is 21m (69feet) wide; 6m (20feet) are used by Deutsche Bahn for a single rail track, part of the Lübeck–Puttgarden railway, the rest for a pedestrian walkway and two-lane roadway. The two steel arches, from which the central span is suspended by cables, are braced with steel cross-beams. The arches are 248m (814feet) in length and reach 45m (148feet) above the main deck of the bridge. The bridge was designed by engineers G. Fischer, T. Jahnke and P. Stein from the firm Gutehoffnungshütte Sterkrade AG, Oberhausen-Sterkrade. Architect Gerd Lohmer helped with the architectural design.In 2023 there is a renovation of the bridge. For example, all steel wires are replaced.[2]

Route and ferry changes

At the same time as the opening of the bridge, changes were made to ferry services. The previous ferry service to the island of Fehmarn was discontinued. The service from Großenbrode Quay, Germany to Gedser, Denmark, crossing both Fehmarn Sound and the Fehmarn Belt, was replaced with a new service from Puttgarden (on Fehmarn) to Rødby, Denmark crossing just the Fehmarn Belt. The new bridge and ferry changes brought about a substantial time saving for both road and rail traffic along the so-called Vogelfluglinie (literally "bird flight line") from Hamburg to Copenhagen.

Historic monument

The Fehmarn Sound bridge was declared a historic monument in 1999 by the State Office for Protection of Historical Monuments of Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, and has since become a symbol of both Fehmarn and Schleswig-Holstein.

Cold War explosive charges

As the bridge was built during the Cold War, six explosive vaults were embedded below the approach road on the mainland side to be used in case of invasion. Their location is given away even today by six square asphalt patches. The vaults were connected to a control point about 11NaN1 away in Heinrichsruh.

Future

A Fehmarn Belt Tunnel is under construction between Denmark and Germany, with four lanes (2+2) and double track railway.[3] But according to the agreement between the two countries, the Fehmarn Sound bridge can remain as it is, one lane per direction and a single railway track.[4]

In December 2012 a study was published saying that the bridge could not cope with the increased railway and road traffic expected after the tunnel opening.[5]

In 2020 it was decided to build a four lane, double track railway Fehmarn Sound Tunnel to carry most of the increased traffic. However, the bridge will still remain in place for pedestrians and local road traffic.[6]

See also

References

  1. Book: The Baltic Sea: New Developments in National Policies and International Cooperation . 9041103570 . Renate . Platzöder . Philomène A. . Verlaan . 1996 . 147.
  2. https://www.anbindung-fbq.de/service/aktuelles/details/fehmarnsund-deutsche-bahn-bereitet-seil-tausch-vor.html Fehmarnsund: Deutsche Bahn bereitet Seil-Tausch vor
  3. Web site: Railway Gazette: Fehmarn Belt tunnel preferred. 2011-01-02.
  4. http://www.fehmarnlink.com/dk/Material+folder/Documents/2007+publikationer/Aftalememorandum+af+29.+juni+2007 Aftalememorandum af 29. juni 2007
  5. Web site: Gutachten: Fehmarnsundbrücke nicht belastbar genug. Lübecker Nachrichten. 2012-12-21. Curd Tönnemann. 2012-12-21.
  6. Web site: Decision on the New Fehmarn Sound Crossing: Construction of an Immersed Tunnel and Preservation of the Bridge - tunnel . 2023-02-14 . www.tunnel-online.info . en.

External links