Boris Johnson’s vision of building a tunnel or bridge between Northern Ireland, Scotland and Ireland is now dead. A review has concluded that the project will be expensive and too difficult.
Multiple times, the Prime Minister spoke of his desire to create a permanent link for transport that would span across the Irish Sea.
He asked Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy to conduct a feasibility study into the project as part of a wider review on how to boost connectivity across the UK.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that the results of the review will be available this week.
Boris Johnson has given up on his dream to build a tunnel connecting Northern Ireland and Scotland. After a thorough review, it was found the project was too difficult and expensive.
The proposed bridge or tunnel would have potentially run between Portpatrick in Scotland and Larne in County Antrim
The newspaper received this information from a source within the Government: “Hendy examined whether it is feasible and affordable, and he concluded that technically it would prove very difficult at the moment.
“It’s possible that it will become feasible in the near future. But at this moment, it is very expensive and difficult.”
In September, Johnson stated that the project would be abandoned. He said the idea “remains an ambition” but was not the highest priority.
The Treasury had major concerns that the project, which came with an estimated £20billion price tag, would prove to be a white elephant.
After Mr Johnson’s decision to scrap the tunnel or bridge plan, there was backlash against him for removing the east leg of the HS2 high-speed rail line from Leeds to Birmingham.
The first proposal for a bridge linking Northern Ireland to Scotland was made by Johnson three years ago. Many experts rejected the idea, warning that it would prove difficult logistically.
It could have been run between Portpatrick (Scotland) and Larne (County Antrim).
Because of the concern that strong winds could cause frequent closures, it was decided not to build a bridge.
The Treasury had major concerns that the project, which came with an estimated £20billion price tag, would prove to be a white elephant
Due to concerns about strong winds in Ireland, the initial plan for a bridge was abandoned. A tunnel option was also considered.
Major concerns were also raised about how the project would navigate the Beaufort’s Dyke area – the UK’s largest offshore dump site for conventional and chemical munitions after the Second World War.
Some places, the bridge route could have traversed water that was more than 1000ft deep. This required the construction of the biggest support towers.
A tunnel idea was also considered.