It is now 20 years since the governments of Sweden and Denmark finally decided to bridge gap between the countries. Soon the design/build contract was awarded to a Skanska-led international team.
And in 2000 the majestic bridge was ready – on time and on budget – to serve an increasing number of commuters. About 90,000 people cross the sound every day – to work, study or live in the neighboring country.
Range of new opportunities in the Öresund region
The bridge created a whole range of new opportunities in the Öresund region. It is simply living proof that well-functioning transport infrastructure is a prerequisite for development. People, municipalities and businesses have all benefited from the shorter travel times and easy access services and facilities.
Marine and land-living wildlife flourishing
And talking about living proof – there were fears about the environment, wildlife and water quality being negatively affected by the bridge. A Skåne County survey shows that both marine and land-living wildlife is flourishing; mussels thrive on the concrete foundations, plants and birds as well as the rare speckle-green frog on the manmade island of Pepparholmen. And salt-water and oxygenated water flow freely through the sound, benefitting the cod population of the Baltic.