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Steve Sayre

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From yesterday's The Scotsman (edited for length):


IT’S an idea that has fascinated engineers and politicians on both sides of the Irish Sea for more than a century, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson now asking government officials to explore the possibility - and the finances - of building a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Both the Treasury and Department of Transport have been asked for advice on the costs and risks of such a project. It is not the first time that Mr Johnson, a lover of large- scale infrastructure projects - has shown an interest in the bridge, which would potentially run from either Portpatrick or the Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish side.The Democratic Unionist Party has previously suggested that such a bridge would go a long way to breaking the Brexit deadlock, as it would negate the need for a border in the Irish Sea. This week, Mr Johnson said it would "it would only cost about £15bn."

There are two potential routes regularly suggested for a crossing. A Portpatrick to Belfast Lough link would be around 21 miles in length, while Antrim to Mull of Kintyre just 12 miles.The latter option is routinely discounted however, as the road network from Campbeltown on the Scottish side would require significant upgrading through mountainous terrain, and lacks a direct rail service. But any bridge or tunnel between the two countries would face other logistical challenges.Ronnie Hunter of the Institution Of Civil Engineers said a rail tunnel would be a more likely option. “The North Channel is something like 32,000 metres coast-to-coast, whereas the Forth Road Bridge is around 2,500 in comparison,” he said.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2019, 10:08:26 AM by Steve Sayre »

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +1/-1
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2019, 10:13:02 AM »
Yes, that idea is pure genius, to accommodate all of the commuter traffic and freight between N Ireland and the NW coast of Scotland.  ::)

Bernie Bell

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Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2019, 10:36:39 AM »
Pretty sure you can take a ferry between Ballycastle NI and either Campbelltown or Port Ellen (Islay). 

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2019, 10:56:30 AM »
The stupidity of our politicians beggars belief.  But even by modern standards this beats expectations.

Niall C

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Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2019, 11:06:48 AM »
Tom

If it wasn't for the impracticality of the idea it actually has a lot of merit both politically and economically (ignoring the outrageous build cost). I like the idea of a tunnel(s) better although again economics would scupper it. You could have a tunnel over to the Mull of Kintyre (golf at Machrihanish, Mach Dunes, Dunaverty etc) a short drive to the other side of the peninsula for another shorter tunnel over to the west side of Aran (Shiskine) followed by a short drive to the east side of the island to drive through another tunnel over to Ayrshire (Troon, Irvine, Prestwick etc) where you could link in directly to the main road network.

Not sure about driving through that length of tunnel though. What's the longest tunnel you can drive through ?

Niall


Niall C

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Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2019, 11:09:39 AM »
I forgot to add you'd also have to add to the road infrastructure connecting the various tunnels but it would do wonders for the economy of that part of the west of Scotland and for that part of NI, but just not enough to justify the cost.

Mark

If it wasn't Boris who was supporting this idea, would you be as strenuously opposed ?  ;D

Niall

Ally Mcintosh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2019, 12:06:26 PM »
So tell me then: Where’s the border going to be now?

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2019, 02:10:27 PM »

Niall,


the Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland is just under 20kms and having used it regularly it is as long as you ever want to 'drive' through. Much better to have a rail tunnel although if cars become automatous then maybe road would work.


Ally,


I suspect what ever the eventual outcome the border will stay where it is now.

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2019, 02:28:35 PM »
Perhaps the EU could be convinced to put up the money to build it!!! :) :)
atb

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2019, 08:09:37 AM »

Mark

If it wasn't Boris who was supporting this idea, would you be as strenuously opposed ?  ;D

Niall


He hasn't learned a thing....(if he ever really meant it beyond this years election)


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/17/absurd-vanity-project-for-our-age-boris-johnson-garden-bridge
Let's make GCA grate again!

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2019, 10:00:58 AM »
If it wasn't Boris who was supporting this idea, would you be as strenuously opposed ?  ;D
Of course.  It's a stunningly stupid idea.  Even if it were possible to build it would takes years that we don't have and be closed for high winds more often than it was open.

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2019, 12:26:14 PM »
If it wasn't Boris who was supporting this idea, would you be as strenuously opposed ?  ;D
Of course.  It's a stunningly stupid idea.  Even if it were possible to build it would takes years that we don't have and be closed for high winds more often than it was open.


I wonder if it had been a President Trump making the famous 1962 moon landing speech whether such a "stunningly stupid idea" would have been summarily trashed.  The reality is that it is nearly impossible to set political ideology aside.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36423250


It would take some drugs for me to take this ride- I barely tolerate an open MRI- but if it saves many hours, who knows.  Seems like it can be done.  Whether the economic, social and political benefits are sufficient to justify the cost, that's the real question.  And it would seem to be a better solution than digging holes and filling them back up as economic stimulus (where public money is spent in large quantities with nothing to show for it at the conclusion).


   

Kalen Braley

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Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2019, 01:16:56 PM »
Lou,


There is a big difference between having the vision to travel to the moon for scientific discovery and gaining valuable research for putting stable satellites into orbit....and proposing an expensive 3rd option for something that's already been solved (by boat or plane), much less proposing something like the Space Farce...

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2019, 03:16:59 PM »
If it wasn't Boris who was supporting this idea, would you be as strenuously opposed ?  ;D
Of course.  It's a stunningly stupid idea.  Even if it were possible to build it would takes years that we don't have and be closed for high winds more often than it was open.



But if you where to build the 'Boris Island International Hub Airport' halfway in between thus making the need for two shorter bridges instead of one long one and throw in the UK Space Port as well it all starts to make for a plausible proposition  :-X :o ;D ;)


and maybe we could club together and finally build the GCA golf facility there as well  ::) ::) ::) ::)

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2019, 07:25:07 PM »
Love the way you're thinking, Jon.  And that would relieve London of having Boris Island International as its 5th/6th/whatever it is airport.

John Crowley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #15 on: September 15, 2019, 10:31:51 PM »
Lou,


There is a big difference between having the vision to travel to the moon for scientific discovery and gaining valuable research for putting stable satellites into orbit....and proposing an expensive 3rd option for something that's already been solved (by boat or plane), much less proposing something like the Space Farce...


+1

Chris Kane

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #16 on: September 15, 2019, 11:15:35 PM »
When Scotland secedes and joins the EU, will Boris Island also be part of the EU?

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: OT: Play Portrush in the morning, drive to Machrihanish in the afternoon?
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2019, 05:23:59 AM »
Would Fantasy Island be an appropriate name for such an enterprise?
Atb


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