THE ALTERNATIVES - TUNNEL OR BRIDGE

This article, the first in a series of four on the possible effects of a fixed channel link, examines some of the options available. A recent report by the European channel tunnel group, prepared for the British and French authorities, recommends that bridge only or bridge-tunnel schemes are not viable at present. Of the five different forms of immersed and bored tunnel schemes that were investigated, the preferred solution was for a railway-only bored tunnel. This represents the lowest cost and would consist of a single passenger and freight line with a smaller service tunnel alongside. The merits of an alternative long-spanned bridge are discussed. It is argued that the carrying capacity of a single-line rail tunnel will soon become insufficient for the demand. It is suggested that a multi-span suspension bridge could be built with a central series of 2 km long spans supported by eight piers in the shipping lanes. Shorter spans would be incorporated over the shallower inshore areas.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The remaining articles in the series are published in Surveyor, Vol 155, No 4597, pp 6-7; No 4598, pp 6-8; and No 4599, pp 5-8 respectively.
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

  Surrey House, 1 Throwley Way
  Sutton, Surrey SM1 4QQ,   England 
• Authors:
  • BROWN, W
• Publication Date: 1980-7-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 6-8
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 155
  • Issue Number: 4596
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Costs; Evaluation and assessment; Planning; Railroad tracks; Seas; Tunnels
• Identifier Terms: Channel Tunnel
• Geographic Terms: France; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 3455: Bridge; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 8036: France; 4368: Sea; 3374: Tunnel; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331119
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 12 1981 12:00AM