Is The Denmark Bridge Underwater? Learn All About It!

The underwater tunnel parts of the Øresund bridge have been covered by marine organisms, and it serves as an artificial reef.

Previously, people had to take a ferry or go through another country (such as Germany) to get between Copenhagen and Malmö. The Øresund Bridge has greatly reduced journey times and has made commuting between the cities much easier.

Did you know that the Denmark Bridge is underwater? It's true! This bridge, which connects the islands of Zealand and Funen in Denmark, has a section that goes below sea level. In this article, we will discuss the Denmark Bridge, including its history and how it was built. We will also talk about why it was necessary to build a bridge with a section that goes underwater. So if you're interested in learning more about this unique bridge, keep reading!

How was it built?

The Oresund Bridge was built as a part rail bridge, part road bridge, part rail line, and part bridge-tunnel.

The Denmark Bridge was necessary because the previous bridge between Zealand and Funen had been destroyed by a storm. The Denmark Bridge was built in the late '90s and early 2000s. Construction began in 1998 and took about four years to complete. The construction of the Øresund Bridge was an engineering marvel, even though it faced many constraints with the design and moving parts.

The biggest design process issue was the transitioning of this bridge structure into a bridge tunnel. There was no land or point where the transition could easily be done. So, engineers widened the seafloor to construct a huge artificial island for the starting point of the bridge-tunnel. This artificial island is now known as Peberholm.

This island was the focal point and main transition point for the whole transit system, However, this island was purely made of dredge seafloor material. So, the bridge-tunnel could not be drilled into the island, rather had to be built into this island.

Highlights Of The Bridge

The Øresund Bridge was built with an underwater section because of the Great Belt Fixed Link project.

This project involved building a fixed link (a road or railway) across the Great Belt, which is a strait that separates Zealand from Funen. The underwater section of the Denmark Bridge was built so that ships could pass underneath it. By building a section of the Øresund Bridge that goes below sea level, trains can cross the strait without having to stop for ferries and ships can pass underneath the bridge.

Most of the bridge structures, even the bridge spans, and bridge piers, were constructed on land and were later towed out by big floating cranes. Pylons were the only ones that were cast 'in situ.' The Oresund Bridge rail link is jointly run by Banedanmark, a Danish railway infrastructure manager, and Swedish Transport Administration.

The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority with Skanetrafiken of Sweden commissioned the passenger train service under the brand Øresundstag. In Denmark, trains run on the right, and in Sweden, trains run on the left. The rail line and motorway run on separate levels. The upper deck of the structure is for vehicle traffic and the lower level has a railway line.

Measurements Of The Bridge

Øresund bridge is around 4.9 mi (8 km) and covers around half the distance between Amager, the danish island, and Sweden.

The two high pylons measuring 0.12 mi (204 m) that holds the 0.3 mi (490 m) long bridge span throughout the Flint channel. The design of this Øresund Bridge is called a cable-stayed bridge.

The Oresund Bridge is the longest motorway-rail bridge in Europe, running from the Peberholm artificial island, the middle of the Øresund strait to the Swedish coast. The crossing is finished by the Drogden tunnel of 2.5 mi (4 km) between Amager, the Danish island, and Peberholm.

The width of the bridge is 77.1 ft (23.5 m), with a clearance of 187 ft (57 m) below the bridge. The Drogden tunnel has an immersed tube (underwater tunnel) that is 2.18 mi (3,510 m) with an additional 886 ft (270 m) entrance tubes at each end.

Location Of The Bridge

The Øresund Bridge is located in the country of Denmark, across the Øresund strait connecting Sweden and Denmark. You can find the Øresund Bridge in the most populous city and Danish capital, Copenhagen.

The bridge connects the Danish capital to Malmo, a Swedish city. The Oresund Bridge links road and rail networks located in the Scandinavian Peninsula with western Europe and Central Europe. The depth of water in Øresund varies from 82-180 ft (25-55 m), so the bridge deck had to be designed to accommodate these changes.

It has also opened up commuting possibilities across Øresund for many people. Cycling paths are integrated into the bridge on both sides, and there are plans to build a dedicated railway line for freight traffic that would use the bridge.

The term Peberholm was selected by the Danes to complement the Saltholm, a natural island located to the north. The fauna and flora on this island are undisturbed and freely developed, making it a favorite region of biologists. The Botanical Association of Lund has recognized over 500 varieties of plant species. This island is also the native habitat of the rare green toads and serves as the breeding ground for birds.