London - A 30km road tunnel beneath the Peak District in England could become the longest ever constructed in Europe, according to a report published on Monday, but the “psychological difficulties” faced by drivers travelling so far underground must be considered before it is built.
An interim report on the proposed Trans-Pennine Tunnel said the £6bn project would reduce journey times and improve transport links between Sheffield and Manchester, resulting in increased productivity of up to £421m a year. However, it added that the “practical and psychological difficulties of driving in a long tunnel environment should not be underestimated”, warning that solutions would need to be found to problems such as driver claustrophobia, limited visibility and poor air quality.
The Highways England report said the tunnel, which would be built under the A628 Woodhead Pass, could cut journey times between Sheffield and Manchester by up to half an hour and avoid delays caused by bad weather in the Pennines. It would be between 20 and 30km long, potentially outstripping the 24.4km Laerdal Tunnel in Norway.
Jonathan Reynolds, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said the report marked an “another important step finding a solution to the dreadful traffic problems suffered by people in my constituency”. However, Stephen Joseph, of the Campaign for Better Transport, described the proposal as “madness” and said the plans should be shelved “before any more money is wasted”.
The Independent