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Officials are examining the potential for a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland, an idea championed by Boris Johnson.<\/p>\nOfficials are examining the potential for a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland, an idea championed by Boris Johnson.<\/p>\n
Downing Street said a \u201crange of officials\u201d were looking at the idea, but were unable to say how many civil servants were examining proposals.<\/p>\n
The British Prime Minister\u2019s official spokesman said it was a \u201cproper piece of work\u201d and Mr Johnson was \u201cambitious\u201d about infrastructure projects across the country.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson has repeatedly spoken about the prospect of a bridge, even though experts have warned that the depth of the Irish Sea and the presence of dumped munitions would cause problems for any project.<\/p>\n
The project could cost a reported \u00a320 billion, although Mr Johnson has previously said it would \u201conly cost about \u00a315 billion\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister\u2019s official spokesman said: \u201cThe PM set out this was an idea which he believed could have some merit so, as a result of that, you would expect the Government to be looking into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scoping work is being run from Number 10, with a range of officials reporting into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PM is ambitious in terms of infrastructure projects,\u201d Mr Johnson\u2019s spokesman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s looking at a wide range of schemes across the UK which could improve connectivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister told MPs \u201cwatch this space\u201d when asked about the prospect of a \u201cBoris bridge\u201d in Parliament in December 2019.<\/p>\n
The distance from Larne to Portpatrick, one of the most likely routes for a bridge, is around 45km.<\/p>\n
There is no problem with distance, money or the Beaufort\u2019s Dyke explosives disposal area, according to the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
In November 2018, he said: \u201cThe problem is not the undersea Beaufort\u2019s Dyke or lack of funds. The problem is an absence of political will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Government sources said it was possible to build a bridge which has a tunneled section to cope with some of the difficulties caused by the depth of the Irish Sea.<\/p>\n