Alternative Projects

The most immediate alternative has always been the improvement of port and ferry infrastructure.

• Increased number of crossings.

• New-generation, low-emission ferries with greater capacity.

• Reduced boarding and disembarking times through dedicated docks.

• Advantages: lower investment costs.

• Disadvantages: persistent structural limits (variable travel times, congestion, weather disruptions).

Inspired by the Channel Tunnel between England and France, some proposals envisioned underwater tunnels for road or rail traffic.

• The concept involved tunnels dug under the seabed to connect the two shores.

• Technical difficulties are enormous: depths up to 1,200 m, unstable seabeds, and high seismic activity.

• Studies have always ruled out this option as technically unfeasible with current technology and economically unsustainable.

In the 2000s, a floating submerged tunnel was proposed, anchored to the seabed with cables and buoys.

• A concept tested in Norway, never built on large scales.

• It would have allowed both rail and road traffic.

• However, the risks in the event of earthquakes or ship collisions were considerable.

• The idea remained purely theoretical.

As an alternative to the single-span suspension design, some engineers proposed multi-pier bridges with several intermediate supports in the sea.

• This approach reduces the central span and technical complexity.

• However, the deep and unstable seabed of the Strait makes it impossible to safely install central pylons.

Other studies suggested hybrid configurations combining improved port operations with supporting infrastructures:

• Special ferries with faster, more direct boarding.

• Terminals dedicated to freight and passenger logistics.

• Integration with high-speed rail corridors (AV/AC) to compensate for the lack of a fixed link.