A BRIDGE from Scotland to Northern Ireland would “revive the economy” post-Brexit, the architect behind the original idea has claimed.
Speaking to The Herald, Professor Alan Dunlop said the idea would create thousands of jobs which would be a good investment in post-Brexit Britain.
It comes after reports that the UK Government shelved the idea, which has been labelled "world’s most stupid tunnel”.
A government official told The Financial Times the project was “dead, at least for now” as Chancellor Rishi Sunak looks to stick to self-imposed spending limits in next month’s Budget.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's plan for Scotland-Northern Ireland crossing scrapped
But Professor Dunlop claims the link between the two countries is both feasible and economically advantageous - partly by providing thousands of people with jobs.
He also said it would also provide “irrefutable evidence” that the UK Government is committed to the people of Scotland and Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Boris Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings previously put the cost of the project at around £15 billion while Scotland’s Net Zero, Climate and Transport Secretary Michael Matheson earlier this year said the link could end up costing £33bn.
Defending the idea though, Professor Dunlop told The Herald: “I still firmly believe such a major transportation and infrastructure project would be an investment in the future after Brexit and also post-Covid.
"Much like Roosevelt’s New Deal, it would put many people back to work.”
He added: “He wants to maintain the Union and he wants to persuade the rest of the world that we’re still big players and can build big things – and what would be bigger than a tunnel under the Irish Sea, linking Scotland and Northern Ireland?”
Questions around whether a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland is even possible still remain due to bad weather conditions in the Irish Sea and the Beaufort’s Dyke trench, which contains dumped UK munitions.
Dunlop, a fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects, said news of the project being scrapped was “disappointing if true” but said it is understandable given the current economic climate.
He added: “However, the Celtic Crossing Irish Sea Link proposal has been headlining all over the world since January 2018. There were times when I thought it over only for the idea to rise again and the Union Connectivity report is yet to be published.
“I still firmly believe such a major transportation and infrastructure project would be an investment in the future after Brexit and also post-Covid. Much like Roosevelt’s New Deal, it would put many people back to work.
“The case, however, for a physical connection between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is not only one of infrastructure.
"Such a link would consolidate economic, social, and cultural ties and offer irrefutable evidence of the UK Government’s commitment to the people particularly of Northern Ireland and Scotland."
READ MORE: UK Government had 'no contact' with Scotland over Northern Ireland bridge plan
He said the UK had the engineering and architectural talent as well as the capability to build the project adding: "It would be transformative and a world first."
He continued: “It is true that it was ridiculed by some engineers but supported by many others, globally and as for the ‘world’s most stupid tunnel’ comment. We know why Cummings said that, surely.
“Experts are said to have said that the Irish Sea is more than 1000ft deep in some areas, and a bridge would need dozens of towers supporting it at heights ‘never achieved anywhere in the world’.
"What experts? This ‘expert’ who has studied it for three years disagrees.”
The Herald reported that a spokesperson for the UK Government did not deny that the plans had been shelved, but said: “Boosting connectivity across the UK and improving transport infrastructure are at the heart of our levelling up agenda.”
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