Editing Øresund Bridge (section)

===Construction===
[[File:Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen.jpg|thumb|300px|The Øresund Bridge. [[Copenhagen]] in the foreground. An aircraft is seen landing at [[Copenhagen Airport]]]]
An OMEGA centre report identified the following as primary motivations for construction of the bridge:<ref name=omega/>

* to improve transport links in northern Europe, from Hamburg to Oslo;<ref name=omega/>
* regional development around the Øresund as an answer to the intensifying globalisation process and Sweden's decision to apply for membership of the European Community;<ref name=omega/>
* connecting the two largest cities of the region, which were both experiencing economic difficulties;<ref name=omega/>
* improving communications to [[Copenhagen airport]], the main flight transport hub in the region.<ref name=omega/>

Sundlink Contractors (who also did the previous Great Belt Fixed Link) began construction of the bridge in 1995 and completed it 14 August 1999.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.hochtief.com/about-hochtief/history/east-bridge-over-the-great-belt| title=East Bridge over the Great Belt| publisher=Hochtief| access-date=19 March 2025}}</ref> [[Frederik X|Crown Prince Frederik]] of Denmark and [[Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden|Crown Princess Victoria]] of Sweden met midway across the bridge-tunnel on 14 August 1999 to celebrate its completion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/htm/baggrund/tema1999/%D8resundsbroen%20er%20f%E6rdig/ |title=Danmark og Sverige landfast |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |language=da |access-date=20 November 2015 |trans-title=Denmark and Sweden by Land}}</ref> The official dedication took place on 1 July 2000, with [[Margrethe II of Denmark|Queen Margrethe II]] of Denmark and [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|King Carl XVI Gustaf]] of Sweden as the hostess and host of the ceremony.<ref name=BT>{{cite news |url=http://www.bt.dk/nyheder/oeresundsbroen-indviet |title=Øresundsbroen indviet |agency=[[Ritzau]] |work=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |language=da |date=1 July 2000 |access-date=20 November 2015 |trans-title=Oresund Bridge inaugurated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051009/http://www.bt.dk/nyheder/oeresundsbroen-indviet |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of the death of nine people, including three Danes and three Swedes, [[Roskilde Festival#2000 incident|at the Roskilde Festival]] the evening before, the ceremony opened with a [[Moment of silence|minute of silence]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.b.dk/danmark/broaabning-i-tragediens-skygge |title=Broåbning i tragediens skygge |agency=Ritzau |work=[[Berlingske]] |language=da |date=1 July 2000 |access-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231021/http://www.b.dk/danmark/broaabning-i-tragediens-skygge |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bridge-tunnel opened for public traffic later that day. On 12 June 2000, two weeks before the dedication, 79,871 runners competed in [[Broloppet]], a [[half marathon]] from [[Amager]], Denmark, to [[Scania]], Sweden.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bt.dk/nyheder/90.000-loebere-over-oeresundsbroen |title=90.000 løbere over Øresundsbroen |agency=Ritzau |work=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |language=da |date=12 June 2000 |access-date=26 March 2011 |trans-title=90,000 runners cross the Øresunds Bridge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322071320/http://www.bt.dk/nyheder/90.000-loebere-over-oeresundsbroen |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite two schedule setbacks&nbsp;– the discovery of 16 unexploded World War II bombs on the seafloor and an inadvertently skewed tunnel segment&nbsp;– the bridge-tunnel was finished three months ahead of schedule.

Although traffic between Denmark and Sweden increased by 61 percent in the first year after the bridge opened, traffic levels were not as high as expected, perhaps due to high tolls.<ref>{{cite web| first=Claus F.| last=Baunkjær| url=http://www.femern.com/service-menu/press--documents/press-releases/cautious-traffic-assumptions-for-the-fehmarnbelt-project| title=Cautious traffic assumptions for the Fehmarnbelt project| publisher=[[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]]| date=28 March 2013| access-date=20 November 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702184331/http://www.femern.com/service-menu/press--documents/press-releases/cautious-traffic-assumptions-for-the-fehmarnbelt-project| archive-date=2 July 2015| url-status=dead}}</ref> However, since 2005, traffic levels have increased rapidly. This may be due to [[Danes]] buying homes in Sweden to take advantage of lower housing prices in Malmö and commuting to work in Denmark. In 2012, to cross by car cost [[Danish krone|DKK]] 310, [[Swedish krona|SEK]] 375 or €43, with discounts of up to 75% available to regular users. In 2007, almost 25&nbsp;million people travelled over the Øresund Bridge: 15.2&nbsp;million by car and bus and 9.6&nbsp;million by train. By 2009, the figure had risen to 35.6&nbsp;million by car, coach or train.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://uk.oresundsbron.com/page/34 |title=Øresundsbrons bokslut för 2008: Bättre resultat trots den ekonomiska avmattningen|language=sv|trans-title=Øresundsbrons financial statements for 2008: better results despite the economic slowdown|publisher=Uk.oresundsbron.com |access-date=24 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313040245/http://uk.oresundsbron.com/page/34|archive-date=13 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dk.oresundsbron.com/page/1216 |title=Traffic numbers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019074049/http://dk.oresundsbron.com/page/1216|archive-date=19 October 2013}}, {{cite web|url=http://dk.oresundsbron.com/page/elements/trafficnumbers/excel.php?year=all|title=Øresundsbron traffic figures all years|access-date=6 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191148/http://dk.oresundsbron.com/page/elements/trafficnumbers/excel.php?year=all|archive-date=2 January 2014}}</ref>

[[File:ORESUNDBRIDGE_WIDE.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Øresund Bridge, Øresund]]