"For Alec Priest, an instrument technician at Sullom Voe oil terminal on Shetland, the case for digging tunnels under the narrow stretches of ocean that separate his home from work is clear-cut. As things stand, two ageing ferries crossing tidal sounds notorious for their powerful currents break up his commute. For a casual tourist, that adds to the mystique. For time-pressed islanders, care workers and businesses, it adds delays, stress and costs."
"Cutting tunnels between Yell and Unst and Shetland's Mainland would shrink that journey dramatically to perhaps 40 minutes each way. Instead, Priest stays in staff hostels at Sullom Voe, so is away from home for weeks at a time. It's a shame for my family, but it's the only option, he said. Priest is part of a very energetic campaign by islanders on Yell and Unst to promote tunnels."
Long ferry crossings across Bluemull and Yell Sound turn a 34-mile drive into a 3.5-hour round trip for residents of Unst and Yell, creating delays and stress, especially for shift workers. Ferry cancellations during winter gales increase travel insecurity and push workers to live away from home for extended periods. Islanders commissioned geological surveys in 2025 and sought Scandinavian tunnel expertise to assess tunnels linking Yell, Unst and Mainland Shetland. Campaigners emphasize social and economic costs of ferry dependence, note family relocations and fluctuating school rolls, and point to Faroes road tunnels as relevant examples.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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