Denmark’s Øresund Bridge Consortium plans to invest €8.07 million in storm surge protection aling the 16km Øresund Bridge over the next six years.
The consortium, Øresundsbro Konsortiet, said it will install walls and ramparts next to tunnel openings and railways as well as new monitoring equipment on Peberholm Island and the Kastrup Peninsula.
Øresundsbro Konsortiet owns and operates the Øresund Bridge, a fixed link between Denmark and Sweden consisting of a bridge, a tunnel and the man-made island of Peberholm.
Forecasts have shown that there is an increased risk of severe floods in the Øresund, a sound running for 118km separating Denmark’s Zealand island from Sweden’s Scania province on the Swedish mainland. It varies in width from 4km to 28km.
Repair costs after major storm damage could amount to €500 million with a shutdown period of at least one year, noted Christian Tolstrup, project manager at Øresundsbro Konsortiet.
Around four years ago, Danish companies SolarFuture and Solarpark DK were awarded a €270,000 contract to install 1,500m² solar panels near the toll station of the Øresund Bridge. The panel are generating around 4% of the power to operate the bridge, including deck lighting and building interior lighting at an estimated annual saving of close to €27,000.
Sweden and Denmark have been considering another fixed link between across the Øresund, this time to cross the 6.,7km the Danish city of Helsingør and the Swedish city of Helsingborg.
Meanwhile, Øresundsbro Konsortiet said profit for year 2021 totalled nearly €117.8 million, up just over €10 million compared to 2020 but a fall of more than €54 million compared to 2019.
Freight traffic across the Øresund Bridge reached record high levels in 2021. With regard to leisure, commuter and business traffic, however, it was another year of reduced traffic when compared with 2019. "Our annual results clearly show that the restrictions have severely impacted travel across the Øresund waterway,” said Linus Eriksson, chief executive of the consortium.
“However, many people still need to travel across the bridge for work, for educational and training purposes and for leisure. Many people live their daily lives in two countries, and it should be easier, not more difficult to cross Øresund. The time has come to return to the Øresund Bridge’s basic idea of creating a cohesive, integrated region,” said Eriksson.
