By Lynda Myer
In order to a suitable investment into a viability of the creation of an eastern link tunnel connecting Redcar and Hartlepool, a £1m study into a potential tunnel under the River Tees has been commissioned by conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.
He said: “If deemed feasible, the journey between the two towns would be significantly reduced from a 45-minute drive to just a few minutes.”
The budget of this project is provided through investment previously earmarked for the now-cancelled northern leg of HS2 by Tees Valley Combined Authority.
The scrapping of this plan is possible, if the study finds the cost of the crossing is too high, or it predicts usage will be too low.
Also for determining whether a tunnel can be built in the area, a land assessment must be carried out.
The feasibility study will not only consider the Tees Tunnel but also the possibility of a bridge over the river.
According to Mr Houchen: “I personally don’t think a bridge is the right idea as it could limit the size of ships that you get down the river. We don’t want that to impact on the businesses that rely on the river and, to be fair, that’s pretty much the heart of our economy in Teesside.”
