LINKING THE NATION ACROSS KATTEGAT

Traffic between the eastern and western parts of Denmark, which mainly runs across the Great Belt Link and Funen, has been increasing in recent years. A fixed connection across Kattegat - the largest Danish infrastructure project ever on the drawing board - can reduce travel time between the two largest cities in Denmark, Copenhagen and Aarhus, strengthen mobility and increase supply reliability.

In March 2020, COWI submitted the results of the first analysis phase of the preliminary study. In that phase, COWI investigated the possibilities of a rail connection and a combined road and rail connection across Kattegat, applying different corridors from Central Zealand to Aarhus via Samsø.

Second analysis phase for the preliminary study started in spring 2020 and will narrow down the number of possible corridors. It involves assessments of road and rail infrastructure in Jutland and on Zealand as well as studying technical solutions between the coasts of Zealand and Jutland including corridors via Sjællands Odde.

The purpose is to weigh up the pros and cons of the different corridors, and to prepare a solid basis for further political discussion about the next steps, including whether to proceed with an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Kattegat project.

The project involving onshore infrastructure is carried out for the Danish Road Directorate along with the Danish Transport, Construction and Housing Authority, and the study on the offshore technical solutions is carried out for Sund & Bælt.

For the project, COWI works together with the architectural firms Dissing+Weitling and Hasløv & Kjærsgaard as subconsultants.