Tunnel example

HOW often have Scotsman readers heard that high wind warnings are in force for the Forth and other road bridges, that 40mph speed restrictions apply and that high-sided vehicles including double-deck buses are barred from crossing?

No doubt the same scenario will apply to any new Forth bridge which may or may not be completed five years after a start is made, whenever that might be. All, according to Transport Scotland, at a guesstimated cost "somewhere" in the region of 2billion which, if the Edinburgh tram accountancy is anything to go by, is probably not realistic.

In Brisbane, Australia, a new road tunnel driven under the main part of the city with all that entailed in moving services, etc and boring under the Brisbane river, was completed in 32 months and is now fully operational, seven months ahead of schedule and within the authorised budget at a cost of 1.8bn.

The entire project took just over five years and appears to have cost less than the estimates for Forth road bridge number two and is completely immune to weather conditions.

The length of the tunnel is almost the same distance as what would be required to link the north and south shores of the Forth. Strange that we never hear anything about the success of that project in Scotland.

BRIAN FARISH

Baird Grove

Edinburgh