East Bridge over the Great Belt, 1991-1995
A project full of superlatives: a bridge over 12 miles long in total crossing the Great Belt,
the arm of the Baltic that runs between the Danish islands of Fünen and Seeland. The
real masterpiece in this project is the East Bridge. Its clear span is 5,328 feet long and
its clear height is 213 feet, which makes it not only the longest suspension bridge in
the world but also the most breath-taking. The two pylons reach 89 feet down below
sea level and tower 833 feet above it, making them almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower in
Paris.
As the leader of an international consortium, HOCHTIEF took on responsibility in the early
1990s for the reinforced concrete load-bearing structure. The work was all worthwhile:
Whereas car drivers used to have to allow two hours to cross by ferry, they can now
cross the bridge in less than 15 minutes. Not only Denmark but also the whole of Europe
has come that bit closer together.
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