Fehmarn Sound bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Fehmarn Sound bridge


caption = Fehmarn Sound bridge seen from Wulfener Hals
official_name = "Fehmarnsundbrücke" de icon
carries =
crosses = Fehmarn Sound
locale =
maint =
id =
design =
mainspan = convert|240|m|ftin|0|abbr=on
length = convert|963.4|m|ftin|0|abbr=on
width = convert|21|m|ftin|0|abbr=on
height = convert|67|m|ftin|0|abbr=on
load =
clearance = convert|23|m|ft|0|abbr=on
below =
traffic =
begin =
complete =
open = 1963-04-30
closed =
toll =
map_cue =
map_

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map_text = Map of Fehmarn Sound area
map_width =
coordinates = coord|54|24|05|N|11|06|45|E|region:DE-SH_type:landmark|display=inline,title

The Fehmarn Sound bridge connects the German island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea with the German mainland near Großenbrode.

Description

The convert|963|m|ft|0|adj=on long road and rail suspended deck arch bridge together with associated earthworks crosses the convert|1300|m|ft|0|abbr=on|adj=on wide Fehmarn Sound. Construction began in 1958 and the bridge was opened on April 30, 1963. The main deck is convert|23|m|ft|0|abbr=on above the sea, which allows shipping to pass through the convert|240|m|ft|0|abbr=on|adj=on long central section. The bridge is constructed of steel and is convert|21|m|ft|0|abbr=on wide; convert|6|m|ft|0|abbr=on are used by Deutsche Bahn for a single rail track, the rest for a pedestrian walkway and two-lane roadway. The two steel arches, from which the central span is suspended by cables, are braced with steel cross-beams. The arches are convert|248|m|ft|0|abbr=on in length and reach convert|45|m|ft|0|abbr=on above the main deck of the bridge. The bridge was designed by engineers G. Fischer, T. Jahnke und P. Stein from the firm Gutehoffnungshütte Sterkrade AG, Oberhausen-Sterkrade. Architect Gerd Lohmer helped with the architectural design.

Route and Ferry Changes

At the same time as the opening of the bridge, changes were made to ferry services. The previous ferry service to the island of Fehmarn was discontinued. The service from Großenbrode Quay, Germany to Gedser, Denmark, crossing both Fehmarn Sound and the Fehmarn Belt, was replaced with a new service from Puttgarden (on Fehmarn) to Rødby, Denmark crossing just the Fehmarn Belt. The new bridge and ferry changes brought about a substantial time saving for both road and rail traffic along the so-called Vogelfluglinie (literally "bird flight line") from Hamburg to Copenhagen.

Historic Monument

The Fehmarn Sound bridge was declared an historic monument in 1999 by the State Office for Protection of Historical Monuments of Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, and has since become a symbol of both Fehmarn and Schleswig-Holstein.

Cold War Explosive Charges

As the bridge was built during the Cold War, six explosive vaults were embedded below the approach road on the mainland side to be used in case of invasion. Their location is given away even today by six square asphalt patches. The vaults were connected to a control point about convert|1|km|mi|1|abbr=on away in Heinrichsruh.

Future

The Fehmarn Belt bridge will be built to Denmark, and it will have four lanes (2+2) and double track railway. But according to the agreement between Denmark and Germany, the Fehmarn Sound bridge will remain as it is, one lane per direction and single railway track. [ [http://www.fehmarnlink.com/dk/Material+folder/Documents/2007+publikationer/Aftalememorandum+af+29.+juni+2007 Aftalememorandum af 29. juni 2007] da.]

In the event of severe congestion a copy could be built next to it, but no replacement since it is a historic monument.

References

*cite book |title= Die Vogelfluglinie und ihre Schiffe|last= Meier|first= Günter |authorlink= |year= 1988|publisher= Koehler|location= Herford|isbn= 3782204417|oclc = 74958103|language= German|pages=
*cite book |title= Die "Vogelfluglinie" : die Eisenbahnfähren, die Fehmarnsundbrücke, neue Verkehrsströme nach der Wende, die neuen "Doppelendfähren"|last= Ernst|first= Friedhelm|authorlink= |coauthors= Meier, Günter|year= 1999|publisher= EK-Verlag|location= Freiburg (Breisgau)|isbn= |oclc = 76062078|language= German|pages= Originally published in EISENBAHN-Kurier SPECIAL 53, Freiburg 1997.
*cite web |url= http://ardryend.sh.tu-harburg.de/Bruecken/bridges/0153.htm|title= Fehmarnsundbrücke bei Burg auf Fehmarn|accessdate=2008-01-28|date= |language= German|publisher=Hamburg University of Technology

External links

* [http://www.sundfaehre.com/sundf.htm Pictures of the construction and opening of the bridge] de icon
* [http://www.reisecenter-fehmarn.de/fehmarn_video.html Video of the construction of the bridge] de icon
* [http://www.fehmarn-info.com/kleiderbuegel.htm Information about the bridge] de icon