A consortium of Cowi, Stantec and Mott MacDonald will explore the potential benefits and challenges of different transport options, including both improved ferry services and fixed links. The outcome of the Inter-Island Transport Connectivity Programme will be a comprehensive network strategy for the next 30 years.
Cowi will focus on the fixed link element, undertaking geological assessments, environmental impact considerations, engineering challenges, and economic analyses.
Stantec’s director of transport planning, Stephen Canning, said “the future of connectivity” was a fundamental concern for Shetland Islanders.
“The ability to access employment, services, and leisure opportunities on Shetland Mainland; move high value goods; and facilitate travel to and service delivery in the islands requires a high-quality and resilient inter-island transport network,” he said.
Islanders have been campaigning for fixed links. The Unst Tunnel Action Group and the Yell Tunnel Action Group launched a campaign in July last year to connect the two islands to mainland Shetland through subsea tunnels in Yell Sound and Bluemull Sound. They argue that tunnels would provide more resilient links than the current ferry services and have cited the impact of tunnels in the Faroe Islands, where 11% of the road network is underground.
