- A proposal has been put forward by infrastructure company Future Works to construct a 14-mile underground dual carriageway connecting Manchester and Sheffield.
- Named Trans-Pennine Connect, the project aims to alleviate heavy congestion on existing routes, particularly the A57.
- The proposed tunnel would utilise the "drill and blast" technique, a Scandinavian tunnelling method used in Norway, according to Clyde & Co, the law firm advising Future Works on the project.
- If approved, construction could commence before the end of the decade, with completion anticipated by the mid-2030s.
- A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We remain committed to investing in projects that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth, however we have no plans for a Trans-Pennine tunnel due to significant financial and environmental costs.”
IN FULL
