Oresund Bridge at 25: how the Copenhagen–Malmö link reshaped commuting—and what's next

Straddling the border between Denmark and Sweden stands a remarkable piece of infrastructure—the Oresund Bridge. Linking Copenhagen with Malmö, it has shaped daily life for tens of thousands over 25 years. More than a route, it has become a shorthand for cooperation, convenience and fresh possibilities.

What kind of bridge is it?

Strictly speaking, Oresund is not just a bridge. It is a sequence of structures: a long viaduct, a tunnel and an artificial island, stretching nearly 16 kilometers end to end. Cars run on the upper deck, trains on the lower one. That split design keeps shipping lanes open in the strait and avoids interfering with takeoffs and landings at the nearby airport.

Construction began in 1995, and the crossing opened on July 1, 2000. Experts from several countries worked on the project, which later received a prestigious international award for its elegance and engineering ingenuity.

How the bridge changed everyday life

Today, about 100,000 people travel across the bridge every day. Most are Swedes who work in Denmark, turning the crossing into the backbone of a vast labor region with more than four million residents.

Yet the picture isn’t entirely balanced. People in Malmö say the economic upside is felt more strongly in Copenhagen. Many Swedes commute to jobs in Denmark while continuing to live in Sweden, and local authorities are debating how to make life on both shores feel more even. The perception of uneven gains has proved hard to shake.

An anniversary—and some unwelcome surprises

On July 1, 2025, the bridge marked its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, Danish and Swedish authorities signed an agreement aimed at making life easier for regular border-crossers, pledging better transport links, fewer bureaucratic hurdles and a more seamless region overall.

But complications arrived at the worst possible moment. In spring, wear was found on the rail tracks. Train frequency dropped to one departure per hour, with passengers shifting to buses, and it took nearly a month to restore normal service. It was a jarring reminder that even a flagship artery depends on steady maintenance.

What’s next for the crossing?

Despite its age, the Oresund link isn’t heading for retirement. Management is confident it can carry far more passengers. By 2030, the number of people traveling across the strait each day is expected to reach 30,000.

There are also plans for a metro between Copenhagen and Malmö. It would run faster than the current train service and significantly ease pressure on the link, with opening expected around 2035.

Meanwhile, a tunnel between Denmark and Germany (the Fehmarn Belt) is under construction, positioning Oresund as part of a larger European transport corridor.

Borders haven’t vanished

The bridge has brought the two countries closer, but borders haven’t disappeared. The pandemic, legal changes and tighter checks are a reminder that rules still apply. For those used to moving freely, the friction can be felt—an occasional reality check in a region built on openness.