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Øresund Bridge. Author Nick-D.

Top 10 Interested Facts about Øresund Bridge

The Øresund bridge is a combined railway and motorway bridge. It is across the Øresund strait which is between Denmark and Sweden.
The bridge is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe.

It runs for about 8 kilometers which is 5 miles from the Swedish coast to the island of Peberholm artificial island and is completed by a 4-kilometer Drogden Tunnel from Peberholm to the Danish island of Amager.

Øresund bridge connects both roads and the rail networks of the Scandinavian Peninsula with Central and Western Europe. The bridge also has a data cable, this cable is the backbone of the bridge’s Internet data transmission from central Europe and Sweden.

Here are some of the top 10 interesting facts about the Øresund bridge:

1. The Bridge Construction Began in 1995

The designerS of the bridge were Jorgen Nissen and Klaus Falbe Hansen from Ove Arup. Their Partners were Niels Gimsing and Georg Routine. The construction began in 1995 and was opened to traffic in 2000.

During the construction, a tunnel was dug at some points instead of raising the bridge. This was done to avoid interfering with the air traffic from Copenhagen Airport. And also to provide a better channel for ships in good weather or bad.

The tunnel was dug to prevent ice floes from blocking the strait. The Øresund bridge was rewarded in 2002 IABSE  as an  Outstanding Structure. 

2. The Official Opening Ceremony was Conducted by Both heads of State

The bridge construction began in 1995 and was completed on 14 August 1999. The Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met in the middle of the bridge-tunnel on 14 August 1999. They met to celebrate the completion of the bridge.

On 1st July 2000, the official dedication of the bridge took place. The ceremony was attended by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as the hosts of the ceremony.

The ceremony opened with a minute of silence due to the death of nine people, who included three Danes and three Swedes. After the ceremony, the bridge-tunnel was officially opened for public traffic. And a marathon was organized at the bridge, where 79,871 runners competed in various categories such as the Broloppet, a half marathon which was from Amager, Denmark, to Skåne, Sweden.

3. The Bridge Led to Higher Innovation in Malmo

According to a study on the bridge in 2002, it was found that the bridge caused an increase in innovation in the Malmö area. This was because high-skilled workers were drawn from this place.

The study indicates a 13.5% increase in the average wage of every worker in the region. This was due to the expanded labor market by bridge construction.

4. Sweden Introduced Temporary Border checks

In 2015 November, during the crisis of European migrants, Sweden’s government introduced temporary border control. This border control to Denmark was following the provisions of the Schengen acquis on temporary internal border controls

This control involves travelers into Sweden from Denmark but does not affect travelers into Denmark from Sweden. The travelers must have a passport or national ID card citizens from both countries or passport.

The move to introduce temporary border controls breaks 60 years of free border travel between the countries. In 2016, the border measures were extended, this time by special carriers’ liability. Carriers such as bus, train, and ferry companies had to check the identity of all passengers from Denmark before bordering Sweden.

The government enforced these laws by introducing a fine of SEK 50,000 as a form of punishment for those who did not comply with the rules. These rules led the private security to also conduct the enforcement, for instance, at the rail station in Kastrup airport in Denmark.

5. The Øresund Bridge has a Double Track Railway

Oresund Bridge. Author News Oresund.

The rail section at the bridge is double-tracked with a 1,435 mm standard gauge. It is capable of speeds of 200 kilometers per hour but is slower in Denmark due to the tunnel.

The railway experienced challenges due to the difference in electrification and signaling between both the Danish and Swedish railway networks. A common solution was adopted, to switch the electrical system from Swedish 15 kV, 16.7 Hz to Danish 25 kV, 50 Hz before entering Sweden.

6. The Øresund Bridge Added Value on the Economy of Both States

According to the committee of the Öresund bridge project. The bridge added a national economic gain for both states worth DKK 57 billion, or SEK 78 billion by increasing commuting and also lowering commuting expenses.

The gain could increase more if the biggest obstacles are removed, these barriers include, the ban of non-EU nationals in Sweden to work in Denmark.  And non-reorganization of many professional qualifications and merits.

7. Cost of Construction was User Financed

The connection of the bridge was user-financed. The owner company was owned half by the Danish state and half by the Swedish state. The owner company took loans that were guaranteed by the government to finance the construction.

The company repaid its loans from the service fee on the bridge. These service fees were enough to pay all the interest and also repay loans, which were expected to take about 30 years.

8. Øresund Bridge Tunnel HHasthe Largest Concrete Segments in the World

The tunnel has 3,510-metre immersed and aa270-meter entry tunnels at both ends. The tunnel is constructed from 20 reinforced prefabricated concrete segments which make them the largest in the world at 55,000 tones. Two tubes in the tunnel carry the railway tracks other two carry the roads. A fifth tube is installed for emergencies which is smaller in size. These tubes are arranged side by side.

9. The Bridge was Name After a Television Series

The Øresund Bridge. Author Wald1siedel.

The Øresund Bridge was named after the Nordic noir television series The Bridge. The series was acted in the region around the bridge.

Also in 2013, the bridge was used for Eurovision Song Contest. Øresund Bridge is used to symbolize the connection between Sweden and the rest of Europe.

10. The Øresund Bridge has become an Artificial Reef for Marine Organisms

Oresund Bridge. Author Johannes.

The bridge underwaterhase become an Artificial Reef for marine organisms. By providing a  cool environment under the bridge.