Sweden Takes Steps Towards Future Transport Capacity Across Öresund Strait
Swedish government initiates study for enhanced transport across Öresund by 2050.
Key Points
- • Allan Widman appointed as special investigator for transport capacity study over Öresund.
- • Study aims for shared transport need understanding amid security concerns post-NATO membership.
- • Permanent connection between Helsingborg and Helsingör seen as vital for mobility.
- • Timely action needed to prepare for future infrastructure projects.
The Swedish government has appointed Allan Widman as a special investigator to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive study aimed at addressing future transport capacity needs across the Öresund Strait by 2050. This initiative, titled "Strengthened Conditions for Cross-Border Cooperation on Capacity and Redundancy for Transport Over Öresund from 2050", intends to provide a unified understanding of evolving transport requirements and heightened security considerations following Sweden's recent NATO membership.
Christian Orsing, the chairman of Helsingborg's municipal council, described the appointment as vital, especially for pursuing a permanent connection between Helsingborg and Helsingör, which is deemed necessary for enhancing mobility and integration within the labor market in the Öresund region.
Current reliance on the Öresund Bridge for transport is seen as precarious, particularly in the context of escalating traffic pressures, especially with the upcoming opening of the Fehmarn Belt connection in 2029. Orsing emphasized the urgency for both Swedish and Danish authorities to push ahead with preparations for the study's recommendations without delay, as infrastructure projects possess significant timelines that can lead to costly postponements if not addressed promptly.