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‘Save the union’? Boris Johnson REALLY wants to build a billions-worth bridge to N. Ireland as critics scold ‘vanity project’
Boris Johnson is close to green-lighting the start of building a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland at a cost of £20bn, prompting accusations that the project is the UK PM's desperate attempt to save the union.
The hugely expensive project that has been described by one former offshore engineer from Edinburgh — James Duncan — as "about as feasible as building a bridge to the moon," looks set to be given the all clear to begin work.
On Monday Johnson's spokesperson revealed that "work is underway" on the project, adding that: "It's an idea that the prime minister has expressed interest in in the past, and as he said at the time: 'watch this space'."
The idea, which many critics on social media have described as Johnson's "vanity project," has also faced warnings about unexploded bombs in the North Channel sea dropped after World War II.
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Additionally, much of the the 20+ mile route has water at more than 1,000 feet deep, that could prove problematic.
Boris: Let's build a bridge across the Thames.Everyone: No.Boris: Ok, Let's build a bridge across the Irish Sea.Everyone: What ?Boris: On top of bombsEveryone: ?
— Doug Sloane (@DouglasSloane) February 10, 2020
Some on Twitter joked that the Chinese would have the bridge built in a month, but "we'll take 32 years, approx." Others pointed to Johnson's failed 'Garden Bridge' project in London while mayor of the capital, that racked up more than £50m in costs without it even being built, as a sign things may get very ugly with this next venture.
How about starting with a Motorway directly from London to Edinburgh? Or maybe build an infrastructure like western Europe before attempting a #borisbridge. And there's no point building a bridge as NI will soon join Ireland.
