Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainYooh
So, following the same logic, how did the Confederation Bridge get approved for the 150,000 people in PEI?
My point was, we don't need 2,000 km of tunnels. Like I said earlier, perhaps a 100km through the most treacherous sections.
I don't think so too. But it was announced during the Harper administration and then quietly shelved during Trudeau's without much explanation to the general public.
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I'm sure lots of detailed analysis went into that bridge, just like the KH project. The alternative to the bridge was ferry service, which comes with its own costs and issues, and it's a toll bridge.
I'm not sure tolls would really have been feasible for a TC1 tunnel?
I suspect one factor against the tunnel was that it wouldn't actually shorten the route as it would really just run parallel to the existing road. Tunnels make a lot more sense when the alternative is a circuitous route through difficult terrain.
The decision they've made here is actually a more direct route through difficult terrain...they are smoothing the hairpin* to the inside with a bridge...a tunnel would have elongated it to the outside of the turn (into the mountain). Either option would have 'shortened' the route by ironing out the curves, but the option they chose will probably be slightly shorter than a tunnel.
And the explanation has been cost. I just don't know if we ever saw a price tag comparison between the options.