Great Belt Bridge Toll ChargeGreat Belt Bridge Toll ChargeIn 2019, the vehicle tolls were: Vehicle One trip One day return Notes
Great Belt Bridge Environmental Effects Environmental considerations have been an integral part of the project, and have been of decisive significance for the choice of alignment and determination of the design. Environmental considerations were the reason why Great Belt A/S established an environmental monitoring programme in 1988, and initiated co-operation with authorities and external consultants on the definition of environmental concerns during the construction work and the professional requirements to the monitoring programme. This co-operation issued in a report published at the beginning of 1997 on the state of the environment in the Great Belt. The conclusion of the report was that the marine environment was at least as good as before construction work began. With regards to the water flow, the link must comply with the so-called zero-solution. This has been achieved by deepening parts of the Great Belt, so that the water flow cross section has been increased. This excavation compensates for the blocking effect caused by the bridge pylons and approach ramps. The conclusion of the report is that water flows are now almost at the level they were before the bridge was built. The fixed link has generated increased road traffic volume, which has meant increased air pollution. However, there has been significant savings in the energy consumption by switching from ferries to the fixed link. Train and car ferries consume much energy for propulsion, high-speed ferries consume large amounts of energy at high speeds, and air transport is highly energy consuming. Domestic air travel over the Great Belt was greatly reduced after the opening of the bridge, with the former air travellers now using trains and private cars. The larger energy consumption by ferries as opposed to via the fixed link is most clearly seen when comparing short driving distances from areas immediately east or west of the link. For more extended driving distances the difference in energy consumption is smaller, but any transport within Denmark across the link shows very clear energy savings. During 2009, seven large wind turbines, likely Vestas 3MWs totalling 21MW capacity, were erected in the sea north of Sprogø to contribute to the electrical demand of the Great Belt Link. Their hub heights are about the same level as the road deck of the suspension bridge. Part of the project was to showcase sea wind at the December 2009 Copenhagen climate meeting. Great Belt Bridge Accidents During construction 479 work-related accidents were reported, of which 53 resulted in serious injuries or death. Seven workers died as a result of work-related accidents. The West Bridge has been struck by sea traffic twice. While the link was still under construction on 14 September 1993, the ferry M/F Romsø drifted off course in bad weather and hit the West Bridge. At 19:17 on 3 March 2005, the 3,500-ton freighter MV Karen Danielsen crashed into the West Bridge 800 metres from Funen. All traffic across the bridge was halted, effectively cutting Denmark in two. The bridge was re-opened shortly after midnight, after the freighter was pulled free and inspectors had found no structural damage to the bridge. The East Bridge has so far been in the clear, although on 16 May 2001, the bridge was closed for 10 minutes as the Cambodian 27,000-ton bulk carrier Bella was heading straight for one of the anchorage structures. The ship was deflected by a swift response from the navy. On 5 June 2006, a maintenance vehicle burst into flames in the east-bound railway tunnel at about 21:30. Nobody was hurt, its crew of three fled to the other tunnel and escaped. The fire was put out shortly before midnight, and the vehicle was removed from the tunnel the next day. Train service resumed on 6 June at reduced speed, and normal service was restored on 12 June. On 2 January 2019, eight people were killed in a train accident on the West Bridge. A passenger train was hit by a semi-trailer that fell off a freight train travelling in the opposite direction. In 2023, a 57-year-old truck driver was arrested by police after traffic on the bridge was disrupted due to spilled potatoes. Police stated that they were working on the hypothesis that the potatoes were either planted intentionally or as an accident. Great Belt Bridge Operations In 2009, a study characterized the rail tunnel (together with other major projects like the Channel Tunnel between England and France) as financially non-viable. Great Belt Bridge Overview Great Belt Bridge Coordinates: 55°20′31″N 11°02′10″E Great Belt Bridge Carries: 4 lanes of E20 Great Belt Bridge Crosses: Great Belt Great Belt Bridge Official Name: Østbroen Great Belt Bridge Maintained By: A/S Storebælt Great Belt Bridge Characteristics Design: Suspension bridge Great Belt Bridge Material: Concrete and steel Great Belt Bridge Total Length: 6,790 metres (22,277 ft) Great Belt Bridge Width: 31 metres (102 ft) Great Belt Bridge Height: 254 metres (833 ft) Great Belt Bridge Longest Span: 1,624 metres (5,328 ft) Great Belt Bridge Piers in Water: 19 Great Belt Bridge Clearance Below: 65 metres (213 ft) Great Belt Bridge Designer: COWI, Ramboll & Dissing+Weitling Great Belt Bridge Constructed By: Hochtief, Skanska, Højgaard & Schultz and Monberg & Thorsen Great Belt Bridge Construction Start: 1991 Great Belt Bridge Construction End: 1998 Great Belt Bridge Opened: 14 June 1998 Great Belt Bridge Toll: 275 DKK (€37/$40) per car. | |||||
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