The Øresund Link: Interaction between environmental protection requirements and design

The design of a combined immersed tunnel and bridge between Denmark and Sweden is in progress. The design has to comply with a set of strict criteria regarding the marine environmental impact of the link. The far field effects are associated with the possible impact on the salinity balance of the Baltic Sea. The near field effects are mainly associated with sediment dispersal from dredging operations and the impact on the local coastal morphology from the completed structure. The environmental criteria have influenced the design of the link and resulted in, for example, a longer tunnel section than originally planned. Special emphasis has also been put into reducing spillage from dredging activities.