Russia Moves Ahead with Tunnel to Alaska

Russia is pressing ahead with plans for a tunnel across the Bering Strait to connect Russian territory with Alaska. An agreement on the continuation of project work is due to be signed on 5 June at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"We're signing an agreement to continue designing the tunnel. The tunnel will happen", Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of the Russian president and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said, according to the Kommersant business daily. He described it as one of the most important infrastructure projects between Russia and the United States.

Dmitriev first floated the idea of a Bering Strait tunnel last October, saying it would create a direct link between the two countries and could significantly strengthen transport and economic ties.

He has estimated construction costs at more than $65bn using traditional methods. If technology developed by Elon Musk's The Boring Company were used, however, the total cost could fall below $8bn and construction could be completed in under eight years.

US President Donald Trump has previously described the proposal as an "interesting" idea.

(max)