How the Eurotunnel could have turned out

VisaGTi16v · Post by **VisaGTi16v** » 21 Oct 2005, 13:49

This is kinda on topic as it involves driving in/out of France. Its one of the proposed plans for the channel crossing/Eurotunnel. Completely mad if you ask me. Long bridges either side to 2 fake islands connected by a tunnel?!

http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/euroroute/

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 21 Oct 2005, 16:16

Still would have been slower on our side. Just as you get to the french bit it would be " and now the FRENCH FAST BIT!! ENGLISH". LOL

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 21 Oct 2005, 19:34

Yes but at least we could all have seen what we were getting for the money!

Imagine the noteriety of some poor ships captain if he managed to collide with it! - Mind you I suppose it becomes a challenge then.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 21 Oct 2005, 20:20

I'm not keen on the term "immersed tube"

were they planning on simply putting a big pipe on the sea bed? That would have been such a risk! At least the current eurotunnel is dug so deep that leakage of seawater into the tunnel is comparitively tiny, and catasrophic flooding is all-but impossible.

Plus, you have to wonder why it was proposed as a hybrid bridge/tunnel. Surely one is cheaper than the other, so it may as well have either been tunnel or bridge all the way. Or is that to do with the channel's depth I wonder.

Personally, I would have thought a road tunnel of this length would be extremely hazardous. Look at the problems that exist with short tunnels here in the UK. Breaking down in a tunnel, several miles in, and under the english channel would not be my idea of safety!

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 22 Oct 2005, 07:38

fastandfurryous wrote: Plus, you have to wonder why it was proposed as a hybrid bridge/tunnel. Surely one is cheaper than the other, so it may as well have either been tunnel or bridge all the way. Or is that to do with the channel's depth I wonder.

From what I remember it was an effort to keep the tunnel section as short as possible for safety reasons.

Of course, the fact that the idea of a road tunnel was scrapped says it all.