Gedser–Rostock bridge: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Proposed bridge}} |
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[[Image:Ostseequerungen.JPG|thumb|400px|right|The [[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]] (green) and the '''Gedser-Rostock bridge''' (orange) in the Danish-German motorway system]] |
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{{Infobox bridge |
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The '''Gedser-Rostock Bridge''' was a proposed project to link the [[Denmark|Danish]] island [[Falster]] with the German city [[Rostock]], stretching 40–45 km (25–28 mi) across the [[Baltic Sea]]. The proposal was an alternative to [[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]], now under construction. |
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|bridge_name = Proposed Gedser–Rostock bridge |
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|caption = A map showing the approved [[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]] ({{small|green}}) and the rejected Gedser-Rostock bridge ({{small|orange}}) |
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The '''Gedser–Rostock bridge''' was a proposed project that would have linked the [[Denmark|Danish]] island [[Falster]] with [[Rostock]] in [[Germany]]. The {{convert|45|km|abbr=on}} route across the [[Baltic Sea]] would have been part of [[European route E55]] and the main link between [[Scandinavia]] and [[Berlin]]. It was rejected in 2007 in favour of the [[Fehmarn Belt tunnel]], which finally began construction in 2021. |
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The bridge (or tunnel) would complete the [[European route E55]] and be the main link between [[Scandinavia]] and [[Berlin]]. Today, [[Gedser]] and [[Rostock]] are linked by the [[Scandlines]] ferries who also operate a [[Vogelfluglinie|Fehmarn Belt line]]. |
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Although the distance was twice as long as the preferred route across the Fehmarn Belt, the bridge would have been be built in manageable water depths as this part of the Baltic is quite shallow. For instance the sea south of [[Gedser]] on Falster has depths of less than {{convert|10|m|ft|0}} for some {{convert|15|km}} in this area. If the crossing had been built as a bridge, it would have been the longest bridge in the world over a body of water. [[Scandlines]] ferries continue to operate between Gedser and Rostock operating through the [[Vogelfluglinie|Fehmarn Belt line]]. |
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If built as a bridge, it would be the longest bridge in the world over a body of water. If built as a [[tunnel]], it would still be the longest underwater tunnel in the world, but the [[Seikan Tunnel]] and the [[Channel Tunnel]] are longer if measured by total tunnel length. |
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==Proposal== |
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Although the distance is twice as long as across the Fehmarn Belt, the bridge could be built in part as a [[low bridge]] since water depths are shallower than in the Fehmarn Belt. The [[Gedser Reef]] offers depths of less than {{convert|10|m|ft|0}} for some {{convert|15|km}} to the southeast of Gedser. |
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The case for the Gedser–Rostock bridge was that it would have been the shortest and most direct link between [[Scandinavia]] and [[Berlin]], the [[economic growth|high-growth]] areas in [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]]/[[Central Europe]], and the [[Central Industrial Region (Poland)|Central Industrial Region]] in [[Poland]]. As compared to the Fehmarn Belt, the distances saved by using the Gedser-Rostock route were as follows: |
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* [[Copenhagen]] – Berlin = {{convert|140|km}} |
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* Copenhagen – [[Munich]] = {{convert|160|km}} |
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* Copenhagen – Poland = {{convert|230|km}}. |
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| ⚫ | Supporters of the Gedser-Rostock said the Fehmarn Belt to [[Hamburg]] would be let down by that city's reputation as a [[bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]] for road and rail traffic. The Danish [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]] and the [[Danish People's Party]] said on 3 June 2007 that they favoured the Gedser–Rostock bridge. They were supported by traffic researchers and a consultant from the German Ministry of Traffic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jp.dk/indland/article959006.ece|title=New Suggestion: Build Bridge between Gedser and Rostock|newspaper=[[Jyllands-Posten]]|date=3 June 2007|access-date=6 June 2007|archive-date=6 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606072611/http://jp.dk/indland/article959006.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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==Rejection== |
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| ⚫ | On 4 June 2007, the then-Danish transport minister [[Flemming Hansen (politician)|Flemming Hansen]] ([[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative People's Party]]) announced he had rejected the Gedser–Rostock proposal because it would put the process "ten years back". The [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] agreed with the Government saying that "if the Germans won't join in, but wish something else, then we will of course listen".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article318430.ece |title=Transport minister rejcts Bridge via Gedser-Rostock|newspaper= [[Politiken]]|date= 4 June 2007 }}</ref> |
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{{unsourced-section|date=January 2014}} |
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Proponents{{who|date=January 2014}} argue that a Gedser-Rostock bridge would be much better situated as a link from [[Scandinavia]] to [[Berlin]] and [[economic growth|high-growth]] areas in [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]]/[[Central Europe]] (especially [[Poland]]). The distance between Copenhagen and Berlin would be {{convert|140|km}} shorter by Gedser-Rostock as compared to by the Fehmarn Belt. From Copenhagen to [[Munich]], {{convert|160|km}} could be saved, and from Copenhagen to Poland, {{convert|230|km}}. |
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In the debate on the Fehmarn Belt project, opponents in Denmark have called it a vision dating from the [[Cold War]], when it would have formed the obvious link from Copenhagen to [[Hamburg]] and [[Western Europe]]. Also, Hamburg already today is a [[bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]] for road and rail traffic. The drawback of the Gedser-Rostock solution, apart from its greater length, is the journey from Copenhagen to [[Hamburg]] will be increased by {{convert|60|km}}. The current ferries across the Fehmarn Belt would, however, offer an alternative if they continued to operate. |
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On 29 June 2007, the Danish and German authorities agreed to support the [[Fehmarn Belt tunnel]] project rather than the Gedser–Rostock bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmvbs.de/-,302.1000913/Tiefensee-Durchbruch-fuer-fest.htm |title=Tiefensee: Durchbruch für feste Fehmarnbeltquerung|publisher= German ministry of transport|date= 29 June 2007}} {{Cite web |url=http://www.bmvbs.de/-,302.1000913/Tiefensee-Durchbruch-fuer-fest.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 July 2007 |archive-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722152551/http://www.bmvbs.de/-,302.1000913/Tiefensee-Durchbruch-fuer-fest.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Eventually after 12 years of planning, economic summits, and international agreements, construction work on the Fehmarn Belt link officially began 1 January 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trm.dk/nyheder/2021/nu-starter-anlaegsarbejdet-paa-femern-baelt-forbindelsen/ |title=Nu starter anlægsarbejdet på Femern Bælt-forbindelsen |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 January 2021 |publisher=Ministry of Transport and Housing |access-date=2021-01-01 |language=da |trans-title=Now construction works on the Femern Bælt link begins}}</ref> |
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===Political views=== |
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| ⚫ | The Danish [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]] and the [[Danish People's Party]] said on 3 June 2007 that they favoured the |
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On 29 June 2007, the Danish and German authorities agreed to support the [[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]] project rather than the Gedser-Rostock bridge.<ref>[http://www.bmvbs.de/-,302.1000913/Tiefensee-Durchbruch-fuer-fest.htm Tiefensee: Durchbruch für feste Fehmarnbeltquerung, German ministry of transport 29 June 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722152551/http://www.bmvbs.de/-,302.1000913/Tiefensee-Durchbruch-fuer-fest.htm |date=22 July 2009 }}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Fehmarn Belt |
*[[Fehmarn Belt fixed link]] |
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*[[Vogelfluglinie]] |
*[[Vogelfluglinie]] |
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*[[List of bridges by length]] |
*[[List of bridges by length]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gedser-Rostock Bridge}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gedser-Rostock Bridge}} |
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Latest revision as of 13:49, 11 September 2024
Proposed Gedser–Rostock bridge | |
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| Coordinates | 54°24′45″N 12°00′59″E / 54.4125°N 12.0163°E |
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The Gedser–Rostock bridge was a proposed project that would have linked the Danish island Falster with Rostock in Germany. The 45 km (28 mi) route across the Baltic Sea would have been part of European route E55 and the main link between Scandinavia and Berlin. It was rejected in 2007 in favour of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, which finally began construction in 2021.
Although the distance was twice as long as the preferred route across the Fehmarn Belt, the bridge would have been be built in manageable water depths as this part of the Baltic is quite shallow. For instance the sea south of Gedser on Falster has depths of less than 10 metres (33 ft) for some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) in this area. If the crossing had been built as a bridge, it would have been the longest bridge in the world over a body of water. Scandlines ferries continue to operate between Gedser and Rostock operating through the Fehmarn Belt line.
Proposal
[edit]The case for the Gedser–Rostock bridge was that it would have been the shortest and most direct link between Scandinavia and Berlin, the high-growth areas in Eastern/Central Europe, and the Central Industrial Region in Poland. As compared to the Fehmarn Belt, the distances saved by using the Gedser-Rostock route were as follows:
- Copenhagen – Berlin = 140 kilometres (87 mi)
- Copenhagen – Munich = 160 kilometres (99 mi)
- Copenhagen – Poland = 230 kilometres (140 mi).
Supporters of the Gedser-Rostock said the Fehmarn Belt to Hamburg would be let down by that city's reputation as a bottleneck for road and rail traffic. The Danish Social Liberal Party and the Danish People's Party said on 3 June 2007 that they favoured the Gedser–Rostock bridge. They were supported by traffic researchers and a consultant from the German Ministry of Traffic.[1]
Rejection
[edit]On 4 June 2007, the then-Danish transport minister Flemming Hansen (Conservative People's Party) announced he had rejected the Gedser–Rostock proposal because it would put the process "ten years back". The Social Democrats agreed with the Government saying that "if the Germans won't join in, but wish something else, then we will of course listen".[2]
On 29 June 2007, the Danish and German authorities agreed to support the Fehmarn Belt tunnel project rather than the Gedser–Rostock bridge.[3] Eventually after 12 years of planning, economic summits, and international agreements, construction work on the Fehmarn Belt link officially began 1 January 2021.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New Suggestion: Build Bridge between Gedser and Rostock". Jyllands-Posten. 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
- ^ "Transport minister rejcts Bridge via Gedser-Rostock". Politiken. 4 June 2007.
- ^ "Tiefensee: Durchbruch für feste Fehmarnbeltquerung". German ministry of transport. 29 June 2007. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Nu starter anlægsarbejdet på Femern Bælt-forbindelsen" [Now construction works on the Femern Bælt link begins] (in Danish). Ministry of Transport and Housing. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.