Fehmarn Belt crossing – the missing link

The new Fehmarn Belt crossing between Germany and Denmark is a highly challenging and top-priority Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) ­project in Europe and will provide a direct railway and motorway connection between central Europe and Scandinavia. Two alternative solutions, a bridge and an immersed tunnel, were simultaneously designed by two teams 2009-2010 with the bridge pronounced the preferred solution. Surprisingly, the Danish Parliament in early 2011 approved the tunnel solution as the preferred solution with the bridge as an alternative, pending the final decision in 2012.

The presentation by Professor Jørgen S. Steenfelt focused on the bridge solution and the challenges posed by the geological setting, the environmental impact/concerns and the proposed design solutions for the foundations and the superstructure.

Jørgen S. Steenfelt has broad experience in foundation solutions for fixed links, bridges, tunnels, marine structures and buildings. He has working experience from a large number of countries and have resided in Denmark, England, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, The Philippines, Qatar and South Korea. Jørgen S. Steenfelt has been actively involved in teaching at various universities and in work connected to code of practice, standardisation and international co-operation through ­professional societies. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 scientific papers and an acclaimed lecturer with a number of general reports, state-of-the-art and key note lectures.