![](http://www.awe-communications.com/Propagation/Tunnel/images/tunnel_animated.gif")
Posted on 12/17/2008 4:20:22 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Construction of a tunnel linking Europe and Africa could begin within five years after Spain and Morocco agreed to a major engineering study of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The tunnel could be dug between Punta Paloma in southern Spain and Punta Malabata near Tangier in Morocco. It would run for 38.5 kilometres and would pass beneath the strait for 27 kilometres at a depth of about 300 metres.
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow and turbulent stretch of water connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The shortest distance across is just 19 kilometres. But the seabed is so deep across this stretch that a tunnel would need to be dug at a depth of 900 metres...
The ministry has already built an experimental tunnel that is more than half a kilometre long. Core samples of the rock beneath the strait will be taken to develop a picture of its geology.
Like the Channel Tunnel, which links the UK and France beneath the English Channel, the new link would consist of two main tunnels linked by a smaller maintenance passageway. But the Channel Tunnel is slightly longer, covering 49 kilometres.
There are also plans to build a 54-kilometre tunnel through the mountains between Lyon, France and Turin, Italy by 2020. A 125-kilometre-long tunnel under the water between Taiwan and mainland China has also been proposed.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
Europe and Africa to Reunite by RailAfter millions of years of separation, Europe and Africa will reunite via a tunnel under the 8-mile ocean stretch at the Strait of Gibraltar. Work on the ambitious project is expected to begin this year... In December 2003, Spain and Morocco agreed to explore the construction of an undersea rail tunnel to connect their rail systems. In fall 2006, the Swiss firm Lombardi Engineering won the contract to design a railway tunnel between Europe and Africa running under the Strait of Gibraltar... due to its huge challenges, the expected completion date is not until 2025. The overall cost of the project was first estimated between US$4.43 billion and US$14.77 billion (3-10 billion euros). As of last year, the cost may reach as high as $15.6 billion... Engineers are considering a 22-mile span at which the water is only 1,000 feet deep. In comparison, the Chunnel is about 130 feet below the surface of the English Channel seabed and there is about 150 feet of water above the seabed... The Strait's seabed is so permeable engineers would have to drill much deeper than was needed at the Chunnel... High water pressure that would guarantee some water leakage into the tunnel... Severe earthquakes have been known to occur in the area under the Strait.
by Fred White
February 5, 2008
Now, what could possibly go wrong there?
It would be an amazing feat of engineering if it lasts. It would also consist of a lot of one way traffic putting the final nail in the coffin where Spain is concerned, just my opinion of course.
Imagine all those ‘willing workers’ united with ‘willing employers’ and in a matter of minutes.
Who makes these stupid decisions? I bet it is done without consulting the people of Spain first. Part of the One-World movement?
why... building the number of ships required to haul said train cars across the water is on demand would cost only a tiny fraction of that amopunt and be up and running in a couple years. this sounds like social engineering to me.
Whe,n Islam goes to retake Andulusia, as thye did in 710, this time they won’t even get wet. Ah progress.
Silly, because, it’ll simplify the reconquest of Iberia by African Muzzies. Also, it’ll bypass the British Gibraltar, which is and has been a mote in Spain’s eye. Britain should offer to build the whole thing (bringing in its own expertise with the overpriced behind schedule Chunnel project) from Morocco to Gibraltar. ;’D
Strait of Gibraltar Floating Bridge
United States architect, Eugene Tsui
Djibouti to Yemen?
It could be a bridge too far [ Djibouti ]
Financial Times | Thursday, August 7, 2008 | Simeon Kerr
Posted on 08/06/2008 11:08:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057871/posts
It’s based on the idea that more trade is better for the economy. In the case of Spain, that’s probably the case, although the trade-off is, lots more Muzzies crossing over and not going back home, and turning the whole works back into the prosperous, democratic, and tolerant paradise found in any predominantly Moslem state, particularly those in Africa. As Choda pointed out, the cost will be ridiculous, and the engineering challenges *just to operate the completed tunnel* will continue to drain treasuries. My guess is, the project will not attract any private capital — unless it’s from Dubai, the Emirates, or something like that, because they’ll have a great big agenda besides the profit motive.
The best way to build such a structure would be to fabricate it on the surface, as a long pipe, while simultaneously boring anchors into the seabed. The pipe would be towed over to the site, and winched down into position (attached to the anchors, obviously), which would be maybe a couple of hundred feet (out of harm’s way in a shipping lane) under the surface, bypassing the tunnelling problems, giving more leeway for the route, and getting it done much faster. Such a method could link several locations on each side for vehicular traffic to the main trunk line.
Of course, auto traffic would mean this beeotch would be exploded within days or weeks of its opening, but this approach wouldn’t prevent it from being a train tunnel, so maybe it would make sense to stick with that.
I’m sticking with my #5 response. It would be an amazing feat. I wonder who’s related to the trillion (euros eh, it’s just money) dollars in contractors involved here. I’d say twenty billion USA Dollars to survey it till lunchtime.
but of course... what was i thinking???
Spain *used* to have an “indigenous” population of camels, but that was in the 1950s. Probably all gone now?
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