Plans have been revealed for a £100million undersea road tunnel between Orkney and Caithness, which would be about nine to 10 miles in length and solve transport link issues which have frustrated residents for many years. The news comes two years after Transport Scotland appeared to rule out the plans.

Although the tunnel has not been discussed in great detail since around 2005, Scottish Office Minister Iain Stewart took a trip to the Faroe Islands in 2022 and the idea of a connecting tunnel resurfaced once again. 

The Faroe Islands’ use of tunnels has been extremely successful, particularly Eysturoyartunnilin, which not only connects the capital Torshavn with the second largest city but also acts as a tourist attraction due to it having the world’s first underwater roundabout.

However, despite the proposed tunnel potentially acting as the answer for the islands only reachable by ferry, Orkney’s MP Alistair Carmichael shared the potential problems with such a large-scale construction plan.

“Political engagement and investment will still be needed for updated and sustainable ferries,” Carmichael told orcadian.co.uk. “The government must remember that this is not a cure-all for our infrastructure, particularly in Orkney.”

He also said that it could cost £20million per kilometre.

(Pic: Ólavur Frederiksen/Faroephoto.com)