Huge £3.4bn bridge connecting two countries that has its own railway – and a big cost to cross

A colossal GBP3.4billion bridge, the Oresund Bridge, links two European nations with a railway and motorway connection - but it'll cost you a huge fee to cross. The impressive structure connects Malmo in Sweden to the Danish island of Peberholm, situated in the Oresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden. Opened in 2000, the 9.8-mile-long bridge provides a vital link to key destinations such as Copenhagen Airport, but crossing it comes at a steep price - a whopping GBP52.

The artificial island of Peberholm, created as part of the project, links tunnels and bridges and even boasts a helipad for emergency services to respond to traffic incidents. The initial cost of the bridge was a staggering GBP3.44billion, funded by both the Swedish and Danish governments. They aim to recoup the project's costs by 2037 through the bridge's tolling system.

Crossing fees range from GBP26.35 for motorcyclists to GBP52.14 for cars, while motorhomes or vans are charged a hefty GBP183.34.

In 2022 alone, over 18,000 road vehicles crossed the bridge. The Oresund committee anticipates that the bridge will generate GBP6.53billion in revenue for both Sweden and Denmark. Such is its significance to Swedish-Danish relations, the bridge has featured in various TV shows and other pop culture events, reports the Express[2].

The Oresund Bridge, a central feature in the crime television series 'The Bridge', plays host to a murder investigation conducted by both Swedish and Danish police.

The iconic structure also influenced the set design for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmo

References

1. ^ Best Shark cordless vacuums as Black Friday Event cuts GBP150 off price (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ the Express (www.express.co.uk)