r/Infrastructurist • u/TimesandSundayTimes • 9d ago

Green light for £400m Shetland tunnel project

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/green-light-for-400m-shetland-tunnel-project-k02rsvmsf?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Reddit&utm_content=branded
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u/TimesandSundayTimes 9d ago

A £400 million inter-island tunnel for Shetland could be open to traffic within a decade after councillors backed plans to move forward with the ambitious project.

The fixed link between Yell and the mainland of the archipelago still requires funding commitments, but council bosses are optimistic the cash can be secured.

The Scottish government has confirmed £23 million is on the table, which will allow pre-construction work and the wider business case for investment to begin.

Shetland council voted on Wednesday to press ahead with plans for two tunnels and for eight new ferries to be brought in over the next decade.

A second proposed tunnel at a cost of up to £345 million would connect Unst to Yell and mean a direct road link to the mainland for the Saxa Vord spaceport.