# Why not build a bridge or tunnel to the Isle of Wight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117 "2013-03-05T20:56:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/1 "2013-03-05T20:56:08Z")
It’s just five miles off the British coast, and seems pretty well-developed: [File:Isle of Wight OS OpenData map.png - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isle_of_Wight_OS_OpenData_map.png) Wiki says it’s been discussed but not done: [Isle of Wight - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_wight#Transport) Just not cost-effective? Some other reason? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/2 "2013-03-05T21:00:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s just five miles off the British coast, and seems pretty well-developed: [File:Isle of Wight OS OpenData map.png - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isle_of_Wight_OS_OpenData_map.png) > > Wiki says it’s been discussed but not done: [Isle of Wight - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_wight#Transport) > > Just not cost-effective? Some other reason? I would say that there’s not enough call for it to justify the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/3 "2013-03-05T21:01:15Z")
Just found this, too: [Transport on the Isle of Wight - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_on_the_Isle_of_Wight#Fixed_Link) Looks like there’s local opposition. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/4 "2013-03-05T21:55:41Z")
You pretty much answered your question with your opening statement: “It’s just five miles” A pretty good distance for a bridge or tunnel. Doable, but not coming out of the rainy day fund. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/5 "2013-03-06T00:27:39Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s just five miles … Which means multiple billion of dollars for the least expensive link. What is the offsetting benefit that pays for this (and overcomes the objection that you’re fundamentally changing the character of the island)? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/6 "2013-03-06T00:47:46Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Which means multiple billion of dollars for the least expensive link… The [Confederation Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation_Bridge) is 12.9 km (8 miles) long and was built with special features for crossing ice-covered water, and it cost 1.3 billion Canadian dollars in 1997. It was built to join Prince Edward Island (pop. 141 000) to the mainland. A link to the Isle of Wight would be shorter and in a less severe climate. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/7 "2013-03-06T00:58:40Z")
Isle of Wight has approximately the same population as PEI too. An interesting idea. First I want the Irish Sea Tunnel to be built. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/8 "2013-03-06T01:00:16Z")
But people _want to go_ to PEI. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/9 "2013-03-06T01:11:21Z")
The toll on that Canadian bridge appears to be almost £29 although you only pay it going one way. Seems kinda steep, no? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/10 "2013-03-06T01:12:23Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > The [Confederation Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation_Bridge) is 12.9 km (8 miles) long and was built with special features for crossing ice-covered water, and it cost 1.3 billion Canadian dollars in 1997. It was built to join Prince Edward Island (pop. 141 000) to the mainland. > > A link to the Isle of Wight would be shorter and in a less severe climate. It appears that the PEI climate and corresponding difficulties with water transport were a key argument _for_ that bridge. A less severe climate means easier ferry service. And it’s not clear at all that the whole project was a good idea. It seems the Fixed Link has been good for some sectors of the island’s economy, not so much for others. The government pays $44 million per year to the bridge consortium, which also charges tolls to cover their construction cost overruns, while struggling to suitably maintain the structure. In 2032, the whole aging, expensive thing will be handed over to the government. I wonder how people will look on it then. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/11 "2013-03-06T01:23:16Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > The toll on that Canadian bridge appears to be almost £29 although you only pay it going one way. Seems kinda steep, no? I guess it depends on what a ferry trip would cost. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/12 "2013-03-06T01:29:35Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I guess it depends on what a ferry trip would cost. A fare point… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/13 "2013-03-06T01:52:14Z")
Are we talking about a bridge from the Isle to England, or to France? It might make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/14 "2013-03-06T01:58:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Are we talking about a bridge from the Isle to England, or to France? It might make a difference. England. It would obviously make a HUGE difference if it were to France. Much farther away. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/15 "2013-03-06T02:44:23Z")
Would it be labeled a bridge to nowhere? Maybe there’s some political opposition for that kind of reason? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/16 "2013-03-06T03:58:00Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > I would say that there’s not enough call for it to justify the cost. Yes, it’s too dear. You’d have to scrimp and save… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/17 "2013-03-06T04:36:32Z")
They’ve probably heard stories about how Wight Trash will move in and lower property values. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/18 "2013-03-06T04:45:03Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yes, it’s too dear. > > You’d have to scrimp and save… Got it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/19 "2013-03-06T07:05:07Z")
If it were a toll bridge, you would need a ticket to Ryde. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117/20 "2013-03-06T08:20:52Z")
Nobody really wants one enough to justify the cost of building it - and it wouldn’t be a cheap build either, as The Solent is very busy with large shipping at both ends. Also, it would enable the verminous American grey squirrel to invade one of the last strongholds of the native red squirrel (although I doubt this is a deciding factor really). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-to-the-isle-of-wight/652117.md?page=2)