ABSTRACT
Fixed links crossing environmentally sensitive water stretches need to be developed with due attention to environmental requirements. Within the infrastructure of land transportation, fixed links are defined as permanent structures across large stretches of water allowing for uninterrupted passage of highway and/or railway traffic with adequate safety, efficiency, and comfort. Fixed links are unique in size and cost, and the political environment differs from project to project. It is thus not possible to provide a recipe for planning major fixed links. The prognosis of traffic is often associated with considerable uncertainty since fixed links will not only satisfy the existing demands but may also create new demands due to the increased quality of the transport. The optimum procurement method should ensure that the work and activities are distributed on and executed by the most qualified party at all phases, to meet the required quality level, at the lowest overall cost.
