New £500m Undersea Tunnels Set to Revolutionize Shetland Island Links

They’re building tunnels under the sea. These tunnels will connect Unst and Yell, northern Shetland islands. The tunnels may cost over £500 million, inspired by successful projects in Norway and the Faroe Islands. The aim is better transport, replacing ferries.

Ground checks start at this month’s end, a big step for the project. The work should take three months, and the results are expected in six weeks.

They raised £13,000 online in 18 months. They also got £100,000 earlier from Unst Spaceport and North Yell. This money paid for Norconsult’s help, a Norwegian firm studying tunnel routes.

They’ll check under Yell Sound and Bluemull Sound, areas currently used by ferries. GeoPhysix will do seismic surveys next year, working with Norconsult on this project.

Unst is the UK’s most northern island, known for cool cliffs and Viking history. Over 60 Viking longhouses have been found there. Yell is Shetland’s second biggest island, featuring beaches and wild moors, small towns, and lots of wildlife.

Norconsult will help prepare for sonar studies and report after the seismic tests. They’ll pick tunnel paths and make tunnel overviews too. If tests show changes, Norconsult will adjust the path.