In a recent statement, Minister of Transport Thomas Danielsen (V) defended the new Limfjord connection, which crosses the island of Egholm, and is expected to be approved in the Danish parliament this Tuesday. The minister emphasizes that the project will not only improve traffic conditions in North Jutland but also create a better environment on the island, including a “paradise for otters.” Despite criticism from experts and environmental organizations expressing concerns about both the financial and environmental consequences of the project, Danielsen insists that the connection will be beneficial. According to the minister, the new connection will not only offset the environmental costs but actually overcompensate. He refers to the establishment of a 20-hectare shallow water area on Egholm to replace half a hectare of beach area lost. “There has been a lot of talk about otters on Egholm. It will be an otter paradise,” Danielsen said, comparing the new habitat to the mythical city of gold mentioned in South American folklore.
The project, which is part of a larger infrastructure agreement from 2021, has been in the works for many years and has involved about 66,000 hours of research. According to the latest estimates from the Ministry of Transport, the Limfjord connection will result in an economic surplus of 707 million Danish kroner. The expected CO2 emissions from the construction phase are estimated at 480,000 tons, according to the Danish Road Directorate.
Despite the criticism, Danielsen believes that the third Limfjord connection is the best choice from an overall perspective, especially in terms of avoiding traffic disruptions that would arise with alternative solutions such as an eastern connection or a parallel tunnel. The project is expected to significantly relieve and improve traffic in the region, which is crucial for both the local population and the general infrastructure in North Jutland.