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Plans are underway to construct undersea tunnels linking several of the UK’s northernmost islands, with a proposed timeline suggesting completion within eight years. The Shetland Islands Council has commissioned a feasibility study recommending tunnels be built from Shetland’s mainland to Yell, and from Yell to Unst, as a replacement for the current ferry services. These tunnels are viewed as “economically transformative,” with further proposals for additional connections to Whalsay and Bressay. According to council leaders, tunnels present a more cost-effective solution compared to replacing aging ferries and upgrading port facilities.
The estimated cost to develop four tunnels stands at around £1.5 billion. Funding is expected to come from a blend of private investment, public subsidies, borrowing, and tolls intended to cover ongoing maintenance. Moraig Lyall, chairperson of the council’s transport committee, emphasized the absence of technical obstacles to the project and suggested that tunnels would prove “cheaper in the long run” than maintaining ferry services. Currently, the council manages ferry routes to nine islands, transporting approximately 750,000 passengers each year via 12 vessels at an annual expense of £23 million.
Over recent years, operating costs for ferry services have risen significantly, with some routes struggling to accommodate vehicle demand. Lyall remarked on the current system: “The system we have that has served us well for decades is now no longer able to do that.” She went on to highlight challenges such as insufficient capacity and difficulty in staffing the services, stating, “The tunnel is the answer that we believe will help us solve these problems.” Local businesses also see the potential benefits; for example, boatbuilder Brydon Barclay of Fluggaboats in Unst called the tunnel “absolutely essential,” explaining that current ferry services fall short of their needs.
The island of Unst, the UK’s northernmost, hosts the only UK spaceport at Saxavord and supports a significant aquaculture industry. The feasibility report indicates that tunnel connections would enhance economic activity linked to the spaceport and generate spillover benefits such as tourism and aerospace development. Improved transport links are expected to boost the spaceport’s competitiveness and growth potential while easing labor access for island businesses. The Shetland plan draws inspiration from the Faroe Islands, a nearby archipelago with a long history of tunnel construction. Since the 1960s, the Faroes have developed over 20 tunnels, including four undersea links, with one featuring the world’s only subsea roundabout. This infrastructure has significantly reduced travel times and supported economic vitality, a model Shetland hopes to emulate
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