Constructing tunnel to Yell could require budget of £400m, estimates suggest
A BUDGET of around £400 million would be required for planning and constructing a tunnel from the Shetland mainland to Yell, according to new estimates.
This comprises around £327 million in capital costs, £50 million of risk and contingency and £25 million of pre-construction work.
An estimated total figure has also been released for a possible tunnel to Bressay, which stands at £255 million.
Further estimates for possible tunnels to Unst and Whalsay are to be released in due course.
No decisions have yet been made, with councillors set to decide on future transport options for Shetland’s inter-island connectivity at a meeting in June.
Shetland Islands Council’s development director Neil Grant said at a media briefing this morning (Wednesday) that “all the options” in the ongoing inter-island transport study feature large numbers, and that includes running and upgrading ferry services.
Andy Sloan, who is executive vice president of consultants COWI, said it was important to view the figures in a wider national context rather than a Shetland context.
Drop-in sessions with island communities are being held this week, with events in Bressay and Yell taking place on Monday and Tuesday. The next sessions will be in Unst and Fetlar today (Wednesday), with the team heading to Whalsay on Thursday.
More to follow…
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