Construction of a 17km tunnel link between Newfoundland and Labrador moved a step closer to fruition following the announcement of an imminent pre-feasibility study.
The Canadian federal government, together with the provincial authorities of Newfoundland and Labrador, will fund a US$275,000 study into options for the Strait of Belle Isle crossing. The Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC) at Memorial University, St John’s, issued a call for proposals on 29 January. Award is planned by late spring, with the initial study completed by this summer. T&TI contacted David Vardy, director of PPRC, in late March, who said: “We have not yet selected a study team. We expect it [the selection] to be completed shortly.”
If the pre-feasibility study supports the proposal for a link, then the project would move to full feasibility status, which could take another year. It is believed that the most popular proposal involves an immersed tube tunnel, most likely a rail link, which has an estimated cost of US$765M. Other options such as a causeway/bridge combination may also be evaluated, but these have a high long-term risk in waters where there are significant iceberg flows.
Currently, the route is served by a ferry service for eight months of the year or by plane.
Ardent supporter of the immersed tunnel option and chairman of the Newfoundland-Labrador Fixed Link Company, Tom Kierans, hopes to request federal and provincial approval at the appropriate time to build and operate the link.
Thirty years ago Kierans was involved as an engineer on the only other attempted tunnel crossing across the strait, this time for power cables. The bored tunnel was abandoned due to the high porosity of the rock, which let in substantial water flows. The extra depth required to reach a more favourable strata was felt to be uneconomic.
Kierans advocates a multi-use rail transport tunnel that could carry all road vehicle types, Labrador hydropower and piped fuel. With his business plan, Kierans has incorporated the Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. However, as well as toll revenues, he argues for government aid equal to current ferry subsidies.
Related Files
Proposed route of the immersed tube tunnel
