The Danish government has awarded construction contracts worth DKK 30 billion for the world’s longest road/rail tunnel.
The four main construction lots cover the construction of the two tunnels, portals and ramps, and dredging and reclamation.
At 18 kilometres, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, which will link Rødbyhavn in Denmark and Puttgarden on the German island of Fehmarn, will be the longest immersed road/rail tunnel in the world.
Three of the four contracts have been awarded to an international consortium comprising VINCI Construction Grands Projets S.A.S. (France), Per Aarsleff Holding A/S (Denmark), Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG (Germany), Max Bögl Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany), Soletanche Bachy International S.A.S. (France), CFE SA (Belgium), BAM Infra B.V. (Netherlands) and BAM International B.V. (Netherlands). Dredging International (DEME Group) and COWI have been appointed as subcontractors.
These three main construction contracts include the two tunnels, the factory to manufacture the precast tunnel lining segments, the construction of the portals, toll buildings bridges and ramps.
The final contract, which was awarded to Boskalis International B.V. (Netherlands), Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V. (Netherlands), with subcontractors HOCHTIEF Solutions AG (Germany), Ed Züblin AG (Germany), is for the dredging of the tunnel trench. The dredged material will be used to create a new nature reserve on the Danish side of the link.
Claus Baunkjær, chief executive of the Danish state-owned delivery body Femern A/S, said: “We’re pleased that, after a number of years of preparation and a tendering process, contracts have now been signed with the winning contractor consortia. As a result, our prime focus is now on obtaining German approval, which is a condition for getting construction underway.”