Scotland-NI bridge considered in UK transport study

The feasibility of building a bridge or tunnel between Scotland and Northern Ireland will be examined as part of a national review of transport links in the UK.

It will examine the “cost, practicality and demand for a new fixed link.”

Downing Street said the study will also consider boosting road and rail access to Scotland from the rest of the UK.

However, Scotland’s Transport Secretary, Michael Matheson, expressed concern that the study would undermine the return.

He said the review had been organized without “virtually no consultation” with the Scottish government, even though transport was delegated to Holyrood.

Matheson has previously said that the bridge plan was a £ 20bn “vanity project” and that the money could be better spent on other projects.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the possibility of a link across the Irish Sea in the past as a “very interesting idea”.

Releasing the latest review, he said the new transport projects could help the UK recover from the Covid pandemic and improve access to “jobs and opportunities” across the country.

Two routes have been suggested for the link to Northern Ireland: from Portpatrick to Larne, or near Campbeltown to the Antrim coast.

Any link between Portpatrick and Larne would have to overcome the challenge of Beaufort’s Dyke, a deep underwater trench where approximately a million tons of weapons have been dumped.

A bridge from Campbeltown would be cheaper, but transportation links to the area are poor.

The independent review aims to find ways to improve connections and create new ones in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

It will be led by Sir Peter Hendy, President of Network Rail.

Downing Street said it would provide “honest and independent advice” on improving transport connections, while considering their cost-effectiveness and value for money.

The UK government has also asked Sir Peter to consider possible future transport needs and technological developments over the next 20-30 years.

In addition to the fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland and the improvement of road and rail links with Scotland, the following will be analyzed:

• Air links review within the UK
• Reduce travel times to North Wales by reviewing the Welsh rail network
• Improvement of the main roads throughout the country, such as the A1

The prime minister said: “Quality transport links are the key to ensuring that everyone can access education, employment and housing, helping businesses to grow and prosper and rebalancing opportunities fairly across the board. our country.

“As we rebuild better from the pandemic, Sir Peter’s review will help ensure that we have the right connections to support, sustain and strengthen our communities, to really level up across the UK.”

The Scottish government said it wanted to see better transport links, but cautioned about the effect of the review on repayment.

Mr Matheson said: “There is a real possibility that the Conservatives will spend money on their own priorities in Scotland and see money taken from the Scottish budget, that is completely unacceptable to both me and the vast majority of people in Scotland.

“While I will try to constructively engage with the UK government, I will sign absolutely nothing that would in any way undermine the repayment agreement. The ball is in the court of the UK government to show that this is not the case, but so far Frankly, I have little confidence in this process. “

Sir Peter’s formal recommendations are expected to be published in the summer of 2021.