Daily Mail

The Boris Bridge

But at £120bn it would cost less to move France, says one expert

- By Jack Doyle Executive Political Editor

BORIS Johnson’s plan for a bridge across the Channel is ‘technicall­y feasible’ but could be prohibitiv­ely expensive, engineers said last night.

The Foreign Secretary raised the idea of a road bridge from Dover to Calais at the Anglo-French summit on Thursday.

He said it was ‘ crazy’ two of the largest economies were linked only by one rail line.

Experts said that, while it could be done, the price of the bridge would be up to £120billion and might not be economical.

Alan Dunlop, who teaches architectu­re at Liverpool University, said: ‘It would really be cheaper to move France closer.’

The UK Chamber of Shipping criticised the idea, joking: ‘Building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges.’ However, Eurotunnel said it was ‘right’ to be thinking about building a new Channel crossing and that it would want to be involved in any plans.

Mr Johnson received a boost when details emerged of plans for a Channel bridge put forward before the tunnel was built. A blueprint for a suspension bridge was submitted to the Department for Transport in 1981.

Plans from 1985 for a hybrid bridge and tunnel were also uncovered. The £6billion proposal included four-lane bridges at both Dover and Calais stretching into the sea before descending into a 13-mile tunnel.

Last night Downing Street did not back the plan. The PM’s spokesman said no formal proposal had been put forward – but he added that a panel would look at major projects, including infrastruc­ture.

Ian Firth, ex-president of the Institutio­n of Structural Engineers, said building such a bridge was ‘entirely feasible’.

He added: ‘There is no real issue, particular­ly nowadays with modern technologi­es. It would be a huge undertakin­g but it would be absolutely possible and the shipping impact issues could be dealt with.’

But Dr Kostas Tsavdaridi­s, associate professor in structural engineerin­g at Leeds University, warned of problems with waves, water flow and wind. He said he would use a bridge only ‘on the good days of the year’.

Others warned of the project’s high cost. David Knight, of the Institutio­n of Structural Engineers, said: ‘It’s technicall­y feasible, but would be extremely expensive.’

The longest sea bridge is the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in east China at 26.4 miles – longer than the 22 miles from Dover to Calais.

According to reports, Emmanuel Macron was positive about Mr Johnson’s suggestion, saying: ‘I agree, let’s do it.’ But last night an aide pointed out that the Channel Tunnel was running at only 55 per cent capacity. A source close to the French president told the Financial Times: ‘Before building a bridge, let’s use the tunnel.’

Mr Johnson refused to back down yesterday. Sources close to the Foreign Secretary said it was the kind of idea which ‘represents the ambition of a global Britain’.

‘I’d only use bridge when it isn’t windy’

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