Overview
The Øresund Bridge is one of Europe's most significant infrastructure achievements — a combined road and rail crossing that permanently connected Denmark and Sweden when it opened on 1 July 2000. The full Øresund Link stretches 15.9 kilometres across the Øresund strait, comprising three distinct sections: an immersed tunnel, an artificial island, and a cable-stayed bridge.
Before the bridge, crossing between Copenhagen and Malmö required a ferry journey of 45 minutes or more. Today, the same journey takes 35 minutes by train or approximately 15 minutes by car on the bridge section alone. The transformation of the Øresund Region into an integrated cross-border metropolitan area of nearly 4 million people is one of the most striking examples of how infrastructure can reshape human geography.
The Three Sections
The Drogden Tunnel (4.05 km)
The crossing begins on the Danish side with a 4.05-kilometre immersed tunnel beneath the Drogden channel near Copenhagen Airport. The tunnel was chosen for this section to preserve clear flight paths for the airport, maintain an unobstructed shipping channel, and prevent ice floes from blocking the strait in winter. The tunnel consists of 20 pre-fabricated concrete elements, each weighing up to 55,000 tonnes, lowered into a trench on the seabed.
Peberholm Island
Between the tunnel and the bridge lies Peberholm — an artificial island approximately 4 kilometres long, created from material excavated during the tunnel construction. The island serves as the transition point between the two crossing methods. Since its creation, Peberholm has evolved into an accidental nature reserve, with over 450 plant species colonising the island naturally. Human access is restricted to protect this ecosystem.
The Cable-Stayed Bridge (7.845 km)
The bridge section stretches 7,845 metres from Peberholm to the Swedish coast near Malmö. It is a cable-stayed design with two main pylons rising 204 metres above the water. The longest span between the pylons is 490 metres, and the clearance beneath the bridge is 57 metres. The bridge carries a four-lane motorway (E20) on its upper deck and a double-track railway on its lower deck.
| Section | Length | Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drogden Tunnel | 4.05 km | Immersed | Under airport flight paths |
| Peberholm | ~4 km | Artificial island | Nature reserve |
| Cable-stayed Bridge | 7.845 km | Cable-stayed | 204m pylons, dual-deck |
| Total Link | ~15.9 km | Combined | Denmark to Sweden |
Crossing Methods
By Car
Driving across the bridge is straightforward. From the Danish side, the motorway leads through the Drogden Tunnel first, before emerging onto the bridge with panoramic views across the strait. The toll plaza is on the Swedish side at Lernacken, near Malmö. Speed limit: 90 km/h. Payment via toll booth, online ticket, or ØresundGO discount agreement.
By Train
The Øresund Line connects Copenhagen Central Station to Malmö Central Station in approximately 35 minutes, stopping at Copenhagen Airport. Services run every 20 minutes during the day and hourly through the night. Tickets through DSB or Skånetrafiken.
Historical Context
The concept of a fixed link dates back to the 1930s. A formal agreement was signed in 1991, construction began in 1995, and the bridge opened on 1 July 2000 — ahead of schedule. The project received the 2002 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.