Bridge to Europe! - General Discussion

19-06-2006, 13:12

What is the possibility of building a suspension bridge from Dover to Calais?

I know that this can be done as other feats of engineering have beaten this distance. I think that a bridge or a causeway would be a great thing to the British economy. For some people it may be a bridge too far.

This bridge would be called Europa Suspension Bridge.

Opinions and view please

Purity · 19-06-2006, 13:14

Considering we can't even build a bridge to the Isle of Wight, I doubt we'd manage one to France. Besides, I'm happy being an island.

fat controller · 19-06-2006, 13:19

Rather than spend the money on a bridge, we could all stick to the ferry/tunnel and use the money saved to do something really revolutionary - maybe pay for doctors and nurses!

19-06-2006, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purity

Considering we can't even build a bridge to the Isle of Wight, I doubt we'd manage one to France. Besides, I'm happy being an island.

We no longer became an island when the channel tunnel was linked up to Europe. Already there are car tunnels in two of the three tubes. This roadway is for emergency vehicles etc.Not for public use.

We could do this if the Government had a more creative head. I guess we will have to wait until Labour die of old age.

Mad Pixie · 19-06-2006, 13:24

No thanks! The tunnel is bad enough without having a bridge too!

conzer16 · 19-06-2006, 13:27

It would be cheaper to build one from UK to France than from UK to Ireland.

Anyone heard of the Tuskar Rock tunnel? To be built from Tuskar Rock in South East Ireland to Pembrokeshire?

occasional post · 19-06-2006, 13:27

Those of you as old as me may well remember that the tunnel was very nearly as mixed bridge/tunnel/bridge.

I liked that design at the time - shame really

the net guru · 19-06-2006, 13:51

The channel tunnel is and always be a flop and a waste of our money i wouldn't go in it if you payed me.

David (2) · 19-06-2006, 13:55

Problem with the bridge idea is that you need part of it (a large of it) to lift up or turn round to let shipping through the gap. Or do part bridge/tunnel, but I think both would be too expensive to build. Anyway, we have a tunnel now, so thats the end of it really.

Dave

Purity · 19-06-2006, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by the net guru

The channel tunnel is and always be a flop and a waste of our money i wouldn't go in it if you payed me.

I thought the Channel Tunnel was a success, both in terms of an amazing feat of engineering and from a commercial viewpoint? Is it not being used any more?

<Finch> · 19-06-2006, 14:00

Yay, more way for illegal immigrants to come.

Its always nice to throw away the one bit of security we have, being an island, and open ourselves up.

Mad Pixie · 19-06-2006, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purity

I thought the Channel Tunnel was a success, both in terms of an amazing feat of engineering and from a commercial viewpoint? Is it not being used any more?

As far as i'm aware the Channel Tunnel is still heavily in debt. Didn't the company that run it almost go bankrupt in the late 90's because they couldn't afford the huge repayments on their debt created by the cost of building it?

akrigg · 19-06-2006, 14:09

I remember seeing one of those "Massive Enormous Structures" progs on Discovery about building a bridge across the straits of Gibraltar.

Looked pretty unlikely to me - and the trusty internet tells me that that gap is only 14km - so quite a bit less than Dover-Calais.

Can't really see the point of a bridge when we've got a tunnel - but it would be superbly spectacular if built.

batdude_uk1 · 19-06-2006, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

Yay, more way for illegal immigrants to come.

Its always nice to throw away the one bit of security we have, being an island, and open ourselves up.

But what centuary are you living in? I don't know about you <Finch> but I am living in 2006, and in this centuary England is not an island as we are connected to Europe. We are as much as island as say Italy is I am afraid to say.

Please get up to date, it just gets on my nerves when people say that we are an island when we are quite clearly not.

<Finch> · 19-06-2006, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by batdude_uk1

But what centuary are you living in? I don't know about you <Finch> but I am living in 2006, and in this centuary England is not an island as we are connected to Europe. We are as much as island as say Italy is I am afraid to say.

Please get up to date, it just gets on my nerves when people say that we are an island when we are quite clearly not.

I know, thanks to the channel tunnel we have hordes of illegals and terrorists coming right through.

We gave up our island security a long time back.

Be proud

But it is always nice to give terrorists and illegals an easy way to come through, I imagine the channel tunnel gets busy.

ianx · 19-06-2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

I know, thanks to the channel tunnel we have hordes of illegals and terrorists coming right through.

That'll help Eurotunnel break even, at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

We gave up our island security a long time back.

Bloody Angles. We should send the lot of them back home.

akrigg · 19-06-2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

I know, thanks to the channel tunnel we have hordes of illegals and terrorists coming right through.

We gave up our island security a long time back.

Be proud

But it is always nice to give terrorists and illegals an easy way to come through, I imagine the channel tunnel gets busy.

"Hordes of terrorists" have come to the UK because of the channel tunnel?

Be proud?? - be screamingly paranoid and sensationalist more like.

<Finch> · 19-06-2006, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by akrigg

"Hordes of terrorists" have come to the UK because of the channel tunnel?

Tell me why Australia is a lot more secure than we are? Why they do not have illegal immigrants roaming the streets - why the US does.

They came through the channel tunnel - airports would be a riskier choice.

Examinus · 19-06-2006, 14:25

Why would anybody want to go to France?

Purity · 19-06-2006, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

Tell me why Australia is a lot more secure than we are? Why they do not have illegal immigrants roaming the streets - why the US does.

They came through the channel tunnel - airports would be a riskier choice.

Because we are closer? I should imagine that if you're in a war torn country and need to get out, it's easier to flee to Europe than hop on a plane to Australia.

Purity · 19-06-2006, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Examinus

Why would anybody want to go to France?

Cheap booze and cigarettes. If you live close to a port, it can be cheaper to fill up with petrol over there too.

<Finch> · 19-06-2006, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purity

Because we are closer? I should imagine that if you're in a war torn country and need to get out, it's easier to flee to Europe than hop on a plane to Australia.

OK, without the channel tunnel how would illegals get here?

Purity · 19-06-2006, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by <Finch>

OK, without the channel tunnel how would illegals get here?

Boats.

(filler)

batdude_uk1 · 19-06-2006, 14:31

The ports, that is how they still do it as well as the tunnel.

<Finch> · 19-06-2006, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purity

Boats.

(filler)

Wooden Boats?

Or easyCruise?

The channel tunnel is clearly the easy option and is the source of so many illegal immigrants.

19-06-2006, 13:12	#1
Eye2006 Posts: n/a	Bridge to Europe! What is the possibility of building a suspension bridge from Dover to Calais? I know that this can be done as other feats of engineering have beaten this distance. I think that a bridge or a causeway would be a great thing to the British economy. For some people it may be a bridge too far. This bridge would be called Europa Suspension Bridge. Opinions and view please

19-06-2006, 13:14	#2
Purity Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Coast Posts: 10,452	Considering we can't even build a bridge to the Isle of Wight, I doubt we'd manage one to France. Besides, I'm happy being an island.

19-06-2006, 13:19	#3
fat controller Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Gender: Male Location: Slightly round the bend Services: Running water, phone, electric and that new fangled net thingy Posts: 9,327	Rather than spend the money on a bridge, we could all stick to the ferry/tunnel and use the money saved to do something really revolutionary - maybe pay for doctors and nurses!

19-06-2006, 13:24	#5
Mad Pixie Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Roaming Britain Services: Freeview Posts: 1,487	No thanks! The tunnel is bad enough without having a bridge too!

19-06-2006, 13:27	#6
conzer16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Republic of Ireland Posts: 1,377	It would be cheaper to build one from UK to France than from UK to Ireland. Anyone heard of the Tuskar Rock tunnel? To be built from Tuskar Rock in South East Ireland to Pembrokeshire?

19-06-2006, 13:27	#7
occasional post Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: here again! Posts: 3,261	Those of you as old as me may well remember that the tunnel was very nearly as mixed bridge/tunnel/bridge. I liked that design at the time - shame really

19-06-2006, 13:51	#8
the net guru Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Services: sky Posts: 818	The channel tunnel is and always be a flop and a waste of our money i wouldn't go in it if you payed me.

19-06-2006, 13:55	#9
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the middle of nowhere Services: Sony Bravia LCD, Freesat-HD, Freeview HDD/DVD combi, DAB, 6.3Mb Broadband Posts: 10,740	Problem with the bridge idea is that you need part of it (a large of it) to lift up or turn round to let shipping through the gap. Or do part bridge/tunnel, but I think both would be too expensive to build. Anyway, we have a tunnel now, so thats the end of it really. Dave

19-06-2006, 14:00	#11
<Finch> Banned User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,587	Yay, more way for illegal immigrants to come. Its always nice to throw away the one bit of security we have, being an island, and open ourselves up.

19-06-2006, 14:09	#13
akrigg Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Services: NTL Cable Posts: 4,881	I remember seeing one of those "Massive Enormous Structures" progs on Discovery about building a bridge across the straits of Gibraltar. Looked pretty unlikely to me - and the trusty internet tells me that that gap is only 14km - so quite a bit less than Dover-Calais. Can't really see the point of a bridge when we've got a tunnel - but it would be superbly spectacular if built.

19-06-2006, 14:25	#19
Examinus Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spooner Street Services: Petercopter Posts: 16,632 Blog Entries: 17	Why would anybody want to go to France?

19-06-2006, 14:31	#24
batdude_uk1 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16,457	The ports, that is how they still do it as well as the tunnel.