Fehmarn Sound Bridge, Road and railway bridge in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Fehmarn Sound Bridge is a road and railway crossing in Schleswig-Holstein spanning 963 meters between the island of Fehmarn and the mainland near Großenbrode. The steel structure rises 23 meters above the sea level, carrying a single rail line, a two-lane roadway, and a walkway across its 21-meter width while allowing ship traffic to pass underneath the arches.
Initial plans for a fixed crossing date back to 1912, but construction only began in 1958. The structure opened on April 30, 1963, ending centuries of ferry dependence across the sound.
The name refers to the narrow strait between the island and mainland, once crossed only by ferries before this structure opened. Today trains and cars share the crossing while walkers follow their own path above the water, watching ships pass beneath the steel arches below them.
Crossing is possible both by car and on foot, though wind often blows freely across the open water. Walkers should wear sturdy shoes and can pause along the way to watch the Baltic Sea and passing vessels below.
Six explosive chambers were built into the mainland approach during the Cold War to sever the connection in case of conflict. These chambers remain visible today as square patches in the asphalt, recalling the political tensions of that era in Europe.
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