Work is set to start on a tunnel between the Shetland mainland and the island of Yell after the Shetland Islands Council approved an inter-island transport connectivity Implementation Route Map (IRM) this week.
Subject to funding, the IRM could see plans progress for two subsea tunnels and eight new inter-island ferries.
The first tunnel planned will connect Shetland’s mainland and Yell, followed by a tunnel from Yell to Unst. Both projects are dependent on full funding being secured.
The Scottish government has confirmed that funding committed earlier this year will be made available to allow the project business case and pre-construction work for the Yell Sound tunnel to commence.
The draft IRM, prepared by a consortium of Stantec, COWI and Mott MacDonald, is the final stage in the development of the long-term programme for inter-island transport connectivity. It sets out a timed programme of investment over approximately 30 years.
The IRM also gives the proposed investment programme for ferry services for the other routes, including the immediate investment needed on Bluemull Sound.
Council leader Emma Macdonald said the IRM was a major step forward.
“With Scottish government funding in place to begin initial work for the Yell Sound tunnel, today’s decision means that this work can now get under way,” she said.
“This is critical not only for Shetland but for Scotland and the UK, which will benefit from our growing seafood, renewable energy, tourism and space industries. As the work begins, we will continue to pursue the long-term funding which will not only build our tunnels, but be used to invest in our ferry services which will continue to be a lifeline for the isles.”
She added that the most significant challenge now was to secure funding for the projects.
