to think that if we want to build a big bridge, we should really do it from Dover to Calais

[chomalungma]

Rather than Scotland to Ireland.

Personally I don't think we should be building any bridge. But if Boris wants his bridge, then surely it would make sense to have a bridge from Dover to Calais.

Ok - so there's the waves.
And it's a very very very very busy channel with lots of ships.

But that's where the biggest markets are....that's where the transport links are.

I know we have ferries and a tunnel. But just imagine what a bridge would do...

I'd only want a rail bridge. Given how bad people are at driving I would be concerned for crashes, or people jumping off to commit suicide.

Either Mr Johnson is using it as a distraction or timing it when the Irish election is happening to make it clear about his party being Unionist. I cannot imagine it being high on the priority list for a Sinn Fein led government in the Dail if there is one.

Nope... We need a bridge from Kent to Essex. That would be the dream! Would cut over an hour out of my journey as what is now an "C" shape would be straight across! Not a selfish request at all, of course 😉

I assume the thinking goes something like this:
Want to scrap Hs2 north, need to promise some (unachievable) infrastructure project to distract from this whilst in investing more in the SE. Once that's done "oh no, cant build Irish sea bridge after all".

Sad thing is, it will work. People can live for years on "jam tomorrow ".

@mullyluo Belfast to Liverpool and it's an overnight ferry in a cabin
Wait a minute. How long does the crossing take? I thought Ireland to England would only take a few hours...

He certainly does have a thing about bridges doesn't he? Odd, given how keen he was on burning our best links. It's a typical Johnson vanity project, and no doubt will have a vanity price.

I gather that to cross from Scotland to Ireland it would have to go over what is almost open ocean - namely, the Atlantic Ocean. It's just where the Irish Sea feeds out into it, and isn't there a trench in the way?

Same question as with HS2 - why is this magic money tree never available for the daily and more mundane travel routes that would actually improve more peoples' daily experiences?

An experts opinion. But we know what the Tories think of experts

“I would actually propose a different variation - a tunnel between Scotland and Ireland.“

Exactly what I was going to post.

Given the rather...variable? Inclement? Weather conditions here (I’m west Scotland so either would likely be quite near me) I would think a tunnel, sheltered from the conditions and not interfering with shipping would make far more sense than a bridge!

It’s not a bridge I think I would enter and I can well see it frequently being “closed” because of weather conditions! As we see often with other bridges in Scotland that aren’t even nearly as exposed as this one would be.

But I’m of the opinion this is another bs statement from Johnson to distract from other matters. What news is he burying?

@StoorieHoose glad to see a sensible Scots engineer (of which we have a long and proud history) pointing out the bloody obvious problems with such a proposal.

If we're putting in requests, Cowes to Portsmouth please. Wightlink have had more than enough of my money over the years.

No, no, you anti-Europe Brits should stay on your island or use the chunnel. No problem with a bridge from Scotland to Eire, although I think it would be an engineering nightmare, given the past few days of weather.

It's a bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland not Ireland. It would have to be one hell of a long bridge to reach from that part of Scotland to Ireland. Seriously, how can we be in 2020 and people still are not able to understand this?

Secondly, why would you put another bridge from England to France and deny a bridge linking two parts of the UK?

The blue line is roughly where the proposed bridge would be, a short route between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The red lines are how you would link a bridge between Scotland and IRELAND - never going to happen.

ShirleyPhallus, I appreciate your post. It made me lol a lot.

I think it's a great idea. When Scotland gets independence there'll be an even stronger case for Irish reunification, with NI is joined on to 2 EU countries.

Until the UK manages to put in a fixed link (bridge / tunnel) to the Isle of Wight
I'll treat all bridge plans as
look! a squirrel
methods to make Johnson's consultant chums rich

It's a bridge from Scotland to NORTHERN Ireland, which (for the time being) is just as much a part of the UK as England, Scotland or Wales.

A bridge to Ireland would hold similar issues as a bridge over the Channel - in both cases it would be a bridge from the UK to the EU, and, well, I hate to break it to you about the EU...

Either way, it really is a moot point. There is a bloody great dyke full of dumped munitions in the middle of the Irish sea, and it's too silty.

You’ve already got a tunnel from Kent to France so no need for a bridge too.

A tunnel is unfeasible engineering wise too - the above mentioned Beaufort dyke is 300m deep, tunnel would have to be another about 50m below that (based in depth of channel tunnel) deepest tunnel in the world is in japan and about 200m deep... (channel tunnel 115m at deepest point)

Bridge or tunnel, never going to happen.
Given today's Irish election results united ireland within 20 yrs much more likely than an infrastructure project of this scale.

To pp who asked about the ferry crossing - South Wales or north wales routes are both three and a half hours on large pleasant enough ships. They have stabilisers when windy so not arduous at all... find a rail and sail ticket for cheapest option - less than 50 quid for an adult from anywhere in UK... young kids free

It’s all just a big distraction

However... I fail to see why the SE needs even more infrastructure investment. I also fail to see why a bridge is needed on a route that already has multiple quick and easy alternatives.

Plus BJ et al would probably object to EU safety regulations in the bridges construction anyway

There won’t be a NI/Scot bridge. Boris just wants to keep the DUP and that lot on side, Brexit, borders and all that. We don’t need a bridge from a tiny port town to the middle of nowhere in Scotland.

“Seriously, how can we be in 2020 and people still are not able to understand this?” Have you SEEN the many threads on here where people display their our shocking lack of geographical common sense?

You’ll have people rocking up soon didn’t know there’s a sea between Scotland and NI.

ShirleyPhallus I really hope you were taking the mick about seeing the fish in the tunnel

If we're putting in requests, Cowes to Portsmouth please. Wightlink have had more than enough of my money over the years.
No bridge to the Island thank you. Our roads can barely cope as it is.
I agree that the ferry costs are ridiculous though.

You’ll have people rocking up soon didn’t know there’s a sea between Scotland and NI.
Or the fact that the Republic is further north than any part of Northern Ireland

Izzabella I know it wouldn't be a popular decision. Overners might come.