Europe continues to break barriers, and not just metaphorical ones. While the underwater tunnel project that would link Spain and Morocco seems relegated to oblivion, a new infrastructure has emerged as the protagonist: a macrotunnel that will connect Ireland and Wales through the Irish Sea. With an extension of 87 kilometers, this work aspires to become the longest tunnel in the world, leaving the ambitious Spanish-Moroccan plans in the background.
The project, which according to It has been baptized as the “Irish Mail route”, it seeks to link Holyhead, in Wales, with Dublin, in Ireland, in a journey that would take just 30 minutes by car. Currently, crossing between both countries involves more than four hours of travel by plane or ferry. Although still in the conceptual phase, this infrastructure promises a transformative impact, both in terms of connectivity and the economic development of the region.
The idea of connecting Ireland and Great Britain is not new. Similar proposals have been put forward since the Victorian era, although technological advances in recent decades have made these ambitions more viable. In 2021, the British government initially scrapped this project due to its high cost of £208 billion and associated environmental concerns. However, its economic and logistical appeal has kept the discussion alive.
According to reports at the time, the construction of the tunnel could generate more than 35,000 jobs and encourage the use of renewable energy from sources such as wind and tides. In addition, the connection would take advantage of existing rail and road routes in Dublin and Holyhead, becoming an engine for tourism and trade on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Among the options considered, this route has established itself as the most viable compared to alternatives such as the “Kintyre Route”, which would connect Scotland with Antrim, in Northern Ireland, or Boris Johnson’s proposal in 2019 to build a bridge between Scotland and Ireland. Despite being the shortest route, the Kintyre Route lacks the necessary infrastructure to complement the connection.
Bill Grose, former president of the British Tunneling Society, explained to the BBC: “Intuitively, Holyhead to Dublin is a more preferable route. “It is closer to Manchester and Liverpool, and connects directly to Dublin.”
The tunnel between Ireland and Wales could be positioned as an iconic work of modern engineering, marking a before and after in European mobility. While the financial and technical challenges are colossal, this project stands out for its potential to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the region, setting a precedent for future cross-border infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the dream of the Spain-Morocco tunnel seems to remain in the pipeline, eclipsed by this new feat of European engineering.
