The 18 km fixed link across the Storebaelt was opened for rail traffic in June 1997, followed 12 months later by the opening of the motorway, thus fulfilling a centuries' old dream of joining the major parts of Denmark for overland traffic. The paper reviews the turbulent history of the project and its economic, social and political impact, locally, regionally and internationally. These issues have been decisive for the adopted construction scheme: a timewise staggered combination of tunnel and bridges, as well as for the financing model: state-guaranteed loans, paid back by user fees. The implications for later projects (the Ore-sund Link, opened in July 2000, and the Femer Baelt Link, currently under consideration) are highlighted.
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