Some critics today ridiculed Boris Johnson over his vision for a new bridge across the English Channel – but other experts point out it is technically possible and has been considered before.
The Foreign Secretary faced warnings that such a link would block the world’s busiest shipping lane while one architect branded it a ‘fantasy project’.
But Boris was today backed by a leading designer who said it would be possible to construct a crossing over the Channel while leaving the route open to shipping traffic.
Indeed, officials previously considered a similar proposal for a bridge before the tunnel was built in the 1980s.
The idea of having a road tunnel spanning the distance was not popular because of fears over emissions, so a consortium of British industrial giants suggested dividing the crossing into three stages.
Boris Johnson raised the prospect of building a bridge or road tunnel between Britain and France during yesterday’s crunch summit with Emmanuel Macron
EuroRoute would have had a central tunnel with two bridges of three miles each at either side linking to the mainland.
The plan was valued at around £6bn and had secured funding by the planning deadline.
But ultimately the contract was awarded to another bid leading to the construction of the Channel Tunnel as it is known today.
The £9billion project took six years to complete and eventually opened in 1994 linking Folkestone with Coquelles near Calais.
Speaking today, Ian Firth, senior vice president at the Institution of Structural Engineers, said building such a bridge was ‘entirely feasible’.
Mr Johnson went onto an official reception at the V&A Museum following the formal talks and was pictured sipping champagne
The Foreign Secretary is understood to have put forward the idea of a second Channel Tunnel in the meetings at Sandhurst military academy.
He is understood to have told aides: ‘They are two of the world’s biggest economies and they are linked by a single railway. It is ridiculous.’
Mr Johnson had tweeted earlier in the day: ‘So much important work in [the UK-France summit] outcomes, but I’m especially pleased we are establishing a panel of experts to look at major projects together.
‘Our economic success depends on good infrastructure and good connections. Should the Channel Tunnel be just a first step?’
The UK Chamber of Shipping warned today that a bridge would pose ‘challenges’ to the busiest shipping lane on the planet
But engineer Ian Firth said a bridge across the Channel was ‘feasible’ and was a ‘serious contender’ when the Channel Tunnel was being planned
Mr Dunlop said: ‘After the Garden Bridge debacle, where Boris Johnson as mayor of London apparently disregarded planning rules, spent £60 million of public cash and a further £37 million was wasted, you would think he would stay clear of building any more bridges. Any sensible person would.’
He said it would be difficult because ‘it’s [one of the] world’s busiest shipping lanes. Is that not enough? It would be easier, and less expensive to just move France closer.
‘It’s a pity about Carillion. If only they’d held out a bit longer the bridge could have been just right for them, another fantasy project to boost possible earnings and future final account projections.’
The UK Chamber of Shipping said: ‘Building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges.’
Mr Johnson has backed a bridge project before, promoting the ill-fated Garden Bridge across the Thames. The project was scrapped as a waste of money
As Mayor, Mr Johnson also promoted the idea of closing Heathrow and replacing it with a brand new four-runway airport in the middle of the Thames estuary
But Mr Frith insisted it was technically feasible as an idea today.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It has been looked at before. Before the tunnel was built there were bridge options being looked at and of course it is doable.’
He added: ‘There is no real issue particularly nowadays with modern technologies. We can design relatively long spans.
‘This would be a multiple span structure. This has not got to be one big span of course.
‘The economics may lean towards something like getting on for a kilometre spans or something, 800 metre to a kilometre span, that sort of size I would imagine. Multiple spans.
‘It would be a huge undertaking but it would be absolutely possible and the shipping impact issues could be dealt with.’
Mr Johnson is understood to have told aides: ‘They are two of the world’s biggest economies and they are linked by a single railway (the Channel Tunnel, pictured). It is ridiculous’
Mr Johnson joined the Prime Minister and French president Emmanuel Macron at the summit yesterday, along with other Cabinet members.
Last year it was claimed the Foreign Secretary had plotted a multi-billion-pound highway to show the EU the UK was not giving up on Europe despite quitting the bloc.
Mr Johnson was said to have abandoned the idea after being talked out of it by his aide Will Walden.
It was reported that in private conversations at the 2016 Tory Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Johnson said: ‘If you wanted to show your commitment to Europe, is it not time for us to have further and better economic integration with a road tunnel? That’s what we need.’ Mr Johnson claimed such a plan had been ruled out in the 1980s, but he added: ‘That’s all changed.
‘They now have the technology. You could come out of the EU but join Europe in the most fundamental way.’
He was said to have claimed that the move would be ‘a great symbol of European commitment’.
Last year it was claimed the Foreign Secretary had plotted a multi-billion-pound highway to show the EU the UK was not giving up on Europe despite quitting the bloc
It’s not the first ambitious building project Mr Johnson has proposed – in 2013, while mayor of London, he suggested building a four-runway airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary in a bid to ease growing pressure on Heathrow airport.
The project would have cost £47.3billion, but the plans were scrapped in 2014 by the Airports Commission.
Despite his idea’s failure, Mr Johnson published a report in 2016 re-introducing plans for the airport, which was nicknamed ‘Boris Island’.
In 2012, Mr Johnson launched the £60million Emirates Air Line cable car over The Thames, which he hoped would be used by commuters – but, in its first year, just 16 passengers were regular users of the service.