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    Shetland Island tunnels test case: design and risk notes for tunnel engineers

    December 8, 2025|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Shetland Island tunnels test case: design and risk notes for tunnel engineers

    First reported on New Civil Engineer

    30 Second Briefing

    Three major European tunnelling contractors have been appointed to develop the next phase of fixed-link proposals that could replace several Shetland inter-island ferry routes with subsea road tunnels. The firms will assess technical and economic feasibility for a test-case tunnel, likely involving long subsea drives in complex North Atlantic geology with high overburden, strong currents and aggressive marine conditions. Outcomes will influence design standards, ground investigation scope and construction methodology for any future multi-tunnel programme across the archipelago.

    Technical Brief

    • Appointment covers a defined “test case” link, intended to de-risk a wider multi-tunnel programme.
    • Three contractors engaged are all international firms with established subsea and hard-rock tunnelling portfolios.
    • Scope extends beyond construction pricing to whole-life economic assessment of fixed links versus ferries.
    • Contractors are expected to advise on preferred excavation method mix: TBM, drill-and-blast, or hybrids.
    • Work package includes early input on ground investigation intensity, sequencing and marine access logistics.
    • Findings are likely to shape regional design standards for subsea road tunnels in Atlantic island settings.

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    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

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