Jersey businesses and politicians recently engaged in discussions with Nordic experts regarding the feasibility of constructing a tunnel between Guernsey, Jersey, and Normandy.
At a meeting organised by the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, experts presented insights into the potential cost and benefits of such a project.
The proposed tunnel would be an undersea train tunnel connecting St Peter Port and Jersey Airport, with a projected travel time of seven minutes between the two points. The tunnel would extend to Normandy, resulting in a total travel time of about an hour from Guernsey. The estimated cost of the entire project is £5.6 billion if completed within ten years.
Martyn Dorey, representing Guernsey and involved in financial modeling for the project, expressed optimism about its financial viability. He suggested that the tunnel could break even in 16 years and contribute to the sustainability of the islands for the next 300 years. Dorey emphasized the potential for economic growth and revitalization of the islands, appealing to the business community to recognize the project’s significance beyond sustainability.
Despite the ambitious scale of the project, recent successful undertakings, such as the Faroe Islands’ Sandoy Tunnel, provide encouragement. The Sandoy Tunnel, spanning over 10 kilometers, connects Streymoy to Sandoy and was completed in December. Teitur Samuelsen from the Faroe Islands Tunnel Corporation highlighted the transformative impact of such projects, suggesting that initial skepticism gives way to widespread satisfaction once the benefits become evident.
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