Öresund Bridge Toll: World’s Most Expensive?
- The Öresund Bridge, a vital link between Denmark and Sweden, is marking its 25th anniversary this year.
- According to a review, the 16-kilometer connection, comprised of a tunnel and bridge spanning between Amager, Denmark, and Skåne, Sweden, carries the highest toll price globally.
- Frequent travelers can subscribe to the Øresund Go discount programme, which lowers the price to 178 Danish kroner (262 Swedish kronor) per crossing.
Öresund Bridge Named World’s Most Expensive Crossing
The Öresund Bridge, a vital link between Denmark and Sweden, is marking its 25th anniversary this year. Though, a recent analysis has given the bridge a less-than-celebratory distinction: the world’s most expensive bridge toll.
According to a review, the 16-kilometer connection, comprised of a tunnel and bridge spanning between Amager, Denmark, and Skåne, Sweden, carries the highest toll price globally. A one-way trip in a private car currently costs 510 Danish kroner, or 750 Swedish kronor.
Frequent travelers can subscribe to the Øresund Go discount programme, which lowers the price to 178 Danish kroner (262 Swedish kronor) per crossing. The subscription itself costs 365 Danish kroner, or 565 swedish kronor, annually. Even with the discount, the initial crossings remain pricier than other bridges worldwide.
The operating company Øresundsbron,said the high tolls are necessary because the bridge is funded by users,not taxpayers. Linus Eriksson, CEO, told Ritzau news that the bridge still has debt to pay off.
“We haven’t spent a single taxpayer krone financing this bridge and we still have debt to pay off,” Eriksson said.
Constructed in 1990 at a cost of 14.8 billion Danish kroner, the Öresund Bridge’s financing model relies on loan repayments from bridge users.Eriksson added that toll rates are also based on historical ferry fares between Helsingør and Helsingborg.
The repayment period extends to a maximum of 50 years from the bridge’s opening in 2000, with full repayment anticipated by 2050. Other costly crossings include the bridges between Kobe and Naruto in Japan, and Canada’s Confederation Bridge. Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge ranks as the fourth-most expensive.
What’s next
As the Öresund Bridge approaches its repayment deadline, discussions about potential toll reductions or alternative funding models may arise, balancing the need to cover costs with the desire to ease the financial burden on commuters and tourists.