Traffic across the Øresund Bridge reached record levels in 2025, boosting revenues significantly — but there are still no plans to reduce (or even cancel) toll prices.
The 16-kilometre fixed link between Amager in Denmark and Skåne in Sweden — consisting of an eight-kilometre bridge, a four-kilometre tunnel and a four-kilometre artificial island — carried an average of more than 20,400 vehicles per day during the first half of 2025. That represents a 6.6 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
In total, around eight million passengers crossed the link in 2025.
Revenues rise as traffic increases
The higher traffic volumes translated directly into stronger financial results. Road revenue during the first six months of 2025 increased by nearly seven percent — equivalent to 54 million Danish kroner — reaching a total of DKK 838 million for the period.
The bridge, inaugurated in 2000, was constructed using state-guaranteed loans amounting to DKK 14.8 billion in 1990 prices. It is not tax-funded; instead, it is financed entirely through user tolls. Every vehicle crossing the strait contributes to repaying the debt.
Between 2015 and 2025, annual traffic rose from seven million to eight million users, more than doubling compared with 2003. The lowest traffic figure in the past two decades occurred during the Covid year 2020, when 4.5 million vehicles crossed.
Originally, projections estimated that the bridge would be fully repaid within 50 years — by 2050. At one point, Denmark’s Transport Ministry suggested that repayment could potentially be completed as early as 2035.
However, despite the recent traffic growth, the repayment timeline remains unchanged. With the current price level and traffic volume, the operator still expects the entire connection to be repaid before 2050.
Among the World’s most expensive crossings
A one-way toll for a standard passenger car currently costs DKK 470 (read here all prices), making it one of the most expensive crossings globally. A review by a Swedish newspaper last year ranked the Øresund connection as the most expensive bridge or combined bridge-tunnel link in the world.
Denmark also appears high on the list with the Great Belt Bridge between Funen and Zealand.
Will It ever become free?
The high tolls have sparked periodic debate about whether the crossing could become free once the construction loans are repaid.
At present, there is no decision about what will happen to toll charges once the loans are repaid. Any change would require agreement from both Danish and Swedish stakeholders, as the infrastructure is jointly owned.
Even after full repayment, the crossing is unlikely to become entirely free. Ongoing operational expenses, maintenance requirements and reinvestments must be covered to ensure 24/7 safety and long-term durability. The operating company employs approximately 150 staff.
Operating costs rose by DKK 17 million in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period the year before, driven by higher traffic volumes, inflation and exchange rate effects.
Revenue growth of DKK 54 million comfortably outpaced the increase in expenses. For now, however, record traffic levels will not lead to lower tolls — and motorists crossing between Denmark and Sweden should not expect a cheaper journey anytime soon.
