Even with the political waters in the UK as hot as ever, hard-working heroes continue to do what they do best for the good of us all. Not divided by speech but unified through action.
Boris Johnson’s recent proposal to build a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland is understandably a political discussion more than anything.
So let’s borrow some of that Trades Skills heroism to look at it from another perspective. How feasible would this extreme suggestion be, if it was made seriously?
What’s The Big Idea?
Around 5000 years ago, people were building Pyramids so remarkable that even today they inspire awe. Over 2000 years ago, Colossus, a 108ft high statue stood at the mouth of Rhodes. And in 1961, the first human walked on the Moon, looking back down on everything we have created.
There is no limit to what we can accomplish together.
The only obstacles are ones we decide are too large to overcome for the reward on the other side.
Compared to road construction on land, a bridge across the Irish Sea does seem absurd. But if we take it as the megaproject that it is, it’s a relatively small undertaking. The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge between Beijing and Shanghai is an incredible 102 miles long (5 times longer), albeit over far shallower waters for most of its length.
What Would it Accomplish?
The benefits of building bridges speak for themselves. So much so that we use the concept colloquially to mean progressing together.
In terms of transport, the main benefit would be from traffic between Scotland/Northern England and Northern Ireland.
Transport would also be faster and cheaper (at least in theory, which we’ll explore more shortly), allowing and encouraging far more personal transport between the two islands
Long-term physical connection between our two lands. As a statement, this lasting construction would loudly say “We are United”, like all megaprojects before it: a message we could all use.
What Can’t it Accomplish?
The dream of having a permanent land connection still isn’t brought to fruition by construction alone. It would be regularly closed in harsh weather – during the majority of winter, it would be inaccessible. While it would be a faster route, it would be an unreliable one.
The costs of maintaining it far outweighs the current costs of travel. While it would be far cheaper for personal and commercial use, the economic drain would totally eliminate the difference.
What are the Stats?
The construction itself would be staggeringly impressive.
- 22 miles long. At the national motorway speed limit, it would take around 20 minutes to cross
- The Sea is over 1,000ft deep along the majority of the line – 3 times the height of Big Ben tower
- At the deepest parts, 30 of the support towers would reach at least 1,400ft high, effectively another Big Ben tower reaching above the water
- 54 Support towers in total, all taller than any other similar structures in current existence.
The Beaufort Dyke
A curious obstacle to this hypothetical is the Beaufort Dyke, a 50km by 3.5km trench at the bottom of the sea. Many proposals for crossing the Irish Sea (including a perhaps more sensible tunnel) all fell at this hurdle.
In 1945, 14,500 tons of obsolete munitions were dumped into it. To make it even more interesting, no one recorded exactly where. In 1997, ministers admitted to using it as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. Combined, the trench is a mini game of Minesweeper that significantly adds to the cost.
Even without its contents though, the trench itself is still 200 to 300 metres deep, a huge extra consideration for any construction project suspended above it or travelling through it.
Will it Happen?
In a word: No. A megaproject is still a megaproject anyway you slice it. For it to transition from crazy hypothetical to landmark history requires far more than political motive, sheer will, and a cool idea. It requires full unity and purpose – resolute devotion and trust in tomorrow.
But could we build it? Easy bet. Absolutely.
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