Undersea Tunnels Could Revolutionize Connectivity for Shetland Islands

With significant backing from Faroese officials, Shetland Islands Council is revisiting proposals for undersea tunnels to improve connectivity and economic viability across the islands. This move is seen as a necessary step to address aging ferry services and enhance island life.

In a progressive shift aimed at revitalizing Shetland’s economy and improving transport infrastructure, Shetland Islands Council is taking inspiration from the Faroe Islands, which has successfully built an extensive network of undersea tunnels connecting its islands. Faroese Prime Minister Aksel Johannesen advocates for this strategy, explaining that such infrastructure investments can stimulate population growth and economic progress.

Currently, the plans focus on developing tunnels to four peripheral islands, including Unst, the UK’s northernmost inhabited island. The Shetland Islands Council is exploring a multi-million-pound initiative, expected to be funded through borrowing and repaid via tolls, marking a unique model potentially replicable by other Scottish islands.

With the Faroese nation, comprising 18 islands and connected by 23 tunnels (four underwater), having successfully completed tunnel construction since the 1960s, many in Shetland believe it is time to act. Critics argue that too much time has been wasted discussing the possibility instead of taking concrete action.

Anne Anderson from Scottish Sea Farms highlights the urgency of advancing public infrastructure, suggesting that the UK should emulate Faroese successes. The evidence of benefit is clear, with a notable tunnel connecting Streymoy and Eysturoy showcasing engineering innovations like the world’s first undersea roundabout.

Tunnel builder Andy Sloan emphasizes that Shetland could surely mirror the Faroese achievement, utilizing the same drill-and-blast technique that has proven effective in constructing the tunnels around the remote archipelago.

Prof. Erika Anne Hayfield, an academic from the University of the Faroe Islands, notes the additional societal benefits, asserting that such tunnels allow residents to thrive in smaller communities while maintaining access to broader economic opportunities in urban centers.

Despite the hurdles, the Shetland Islands Council, led by Emma Macdonald, is determined to explore feasibility studies for proposed tunnels to connect Unst, Yell, Bressay, and Whalsay. Funding remains a challenge, but adopting the Faroese model of toll-based infrastructure financing seems likely.

Currently, Shetland operates aging ferries that service nine islands, with operational limitations leading to transport difficulties and rising operational costs. The dire need for new transport solutions is echoed by locals such as Elizabeth Johnson of Saxavord Spaceport, who underscores that tunnels would significantly enhance business opportunities on the island.

While concerns about the cultural implications of such infrastructure exist, residents, including shopkeeper Pat Burns from Unst, are beginning to recognize the necessity of tunneling as a solution to enhance connectivity and mitigate supply issues in adverse weather.

The initiative reflects not only a transformational transport vision for the Shetland Islands but also an inspiring call towards creating viable solutions rooted in the experiences of the Faroe Islands’ formidable undersea tunneling achievements.