Plans to build a network of subsea tunnels in Shetland are “not fantasy” and may happen “relatively soon”, experts commissioned by the local authority to examine transport links on the archipelago have said. Shetland Islands Council has appointed a team of consultants to explore improved ferry services and fixed links as part of a comprehensive transport strategy for the next 30 years. The collaboration between global engineering consultancies COWI, Stantec and Mott MacDonald will involve an in-depth study setting out the comparative merits of different ferry and fixed link options.
Andy Sloan, managing director at COWI in the UK, told The Scotsman tunnels could help reverse depopulation. He added: “This is not fantasy. It is not a theoretical exercise.
It is real and tangible, it is happening around the world, and it may well happen relatively soon in Shetland.” The study is part of a £700,000 project aimed at making the case for government funding for future transport links. It is expected to take around 18 months to complete.
COWI’s role is specifically focused on the possibility of building tunnels, and will encompass geological assessments, environmental impact considerations, engineering challenges and economic analysis. The aim is to provide the council with a comprehensive understanding of the technical and financial implications of establishing fixed links. Mr Sloan pointed to the Faroe Islands, where the world's first undersea roundabout opened in 202.