Shetland Islands Council is expected to approve a proposal for a system of undersea tunnels connecting the Shetland Islands, with costs estimated at up to £1.5 billion. The draft strategy, to be discussed on Tuesday, outlines a tunnel between Shetland's mainland and the island of Yell, and another to the northerly island of Unst. Two additional tunnels could connect the islands of Whalsay and Bressay.
Ferry Service Challenges
Shetland's ferry service, described as "the social and economic backbone" of the islands, operates a fleet of 12 vessels making about 70,000 trips annually to nine islands, carrying approximately 750,000 passengers. However, concerns have been raised about the aging ferry fleet that links the islands.
Timeline and Cost
Under an indicative timeline published by the council, the tunnels would open in 2034. The total cost for the four tunnels is estimated at around £1.5 billion, which would replace the inter-island ferries.
Political and National Significance
Councillor Moraig Lyall, chairwoman of the council’s environment and transport committee, said: “It’s fair to say that this project is now of great significance nationally, as well as locally. Tunnels were on the list of priorities for all the main political parties in the run-up to the Holyrood elections, evidence of the great strides we have made in getting this issue onto the agenda at a national level. We continue to engage with both the UK and Scottish Governments as we look towards taking forward the recommendations of this in-depth study.”
