£1m study to consider Tees tunnel viability

Mayor Ben Houchen believes a tunnel under the Tees would be preferable to a bridge

A £1m study into a possible tunnel under the River Tees has been commissioned.

Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has pledged the money for a feasibility study into an eastern link connecting Redcar and Hartlepool.

If viable, the journey between the two towns would be reduced from a 45-minute drive to "just a few minutes", he said.

Chis McEwan, Labour's mayoral candidate, welcomed transport investment but said a strategy was needed, "not just gimmicks in the run up to an election".

The Tees Valley Combined Authority is funding the project through money previously earmarked for the now-cancelled northern leg of HS2.

If the study finds the cost of the crossing is too high, or it predicts usage will be too low, it may recommend scrapping the plan.

A land assessment must also be carried out to determine whether a tunnel can be built in the area.

'Heart of economy'

Speaking to BBC Tees, Mr Houchen said: "Instinctively, it feels like we do need an eastern crossing but I don’t know whether it would be viable."

The feasibility study will not only consider the Tees Tunnel but also the possibility of a bridge over the river.

Mr Houchen said: "I personally don’t think a bridge is the right idea as it could limit the size of ships that you get down the river.

"We don’t want that to impact on the businesses that rely on the river and, to be fair, that’s pretty much the heart of our economy in Teesside."

Labour's Mr McEwan said: "Our region desperately needs connecting and investing in our roads, rail and bus networks will always be welcome and something I'll prioritise as mayor.

"We need a strategy that will deliver all across the Tees Valley, not just gimmicks in the run up to an election."

Airport plan

Mr Houchen also announced plans to rebuild the railway station at Teesside Airport.

The station is set to be demolished next week and £20m is being committed to build a new one, also funded from former HS2 cash.

"It’s not going to be an all singing all dancing station like Middlesbrough or Darlington which is why it’s only £20m and not £100m, but it will be a good viable connection to our airport via rail."

Mr Houchen said the station was currently too dangerous for trains to use but investing in the site would allow services to resume.

The station is a 10-minute walk from the airport and has been mocked for being one of the least used railway stations in the country.

But the mayor said he wanted shuttlebuses running from the station to the airport every few minutes.