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