The dream of connecting Europe and Africa via an undersea tunnel through the Strait of Gibraltar is being revived, marking a significant step in a project that has captivated engineers and policymakers for over four decades. The Spanish government has announced renewed efforts, investing €2.7 million in updated feasibility studies for the Gibraltar Strait tunnel, with further support from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The tunnel, if realized, would stretch 60 kilometers—28 kilometers under the sea—and link Tangier in Morocco to Algeciras in Spain. This massive infrastructure project, akin to the Channel Tunnel or Switzerland’s Gotthard Tunnel, is expected to cost billions and take decades to complete. The original concept dates back to 1979, following a meeting between King Juan Carlos I of Spain and King Hassan II of Morocco.
Inspired by the myth of Hercules, who supposedly split the mountain dividing the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the project faces monumental technical and logistical challenges. The most recent studies from 2007 outlined a 32-kilometer tunnel costing €10 billion. Adjusted for inflation and expanded to 60 kilometers, costs are now estimated at €15 billion, according to the Spanish Society for Studies for Fixed Communication through the Strait of Gibraltar (Secegsa).
Seismic risks in the region pose a significant challenge. To address this, the Spanish government allocated €480,000 to rent seismographs to evaluate potential hazards, in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The complexity of the project means that preliminary studies alone could require up to €1 billion, representing 5–10% of the total budget.
Proponents argue that the tunnel would enhance trade and connectivity between Africa and Europe, offering an alternative to the barriers created by sea routes and political tensions. However, the infrastructure also highlights ethical dilemmas. Critics point to the juxtaposition of building a high-tech, secure tunnel while thousands of migrants risk their lives to cross the Strait in small boats.
The renewed push for the Gibraltar Strait tunnel comes amid improving relations between Spain and Morocco, including collaborative projects like the high-speed rail link in Tangier. Secegsa’s president, Jose Luis Goberna Caride, expressed optimism about updated technology reducing construction time from 40 years to just 20.
The tunnel would join the ranks of the world’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, symbolizing a tangible link between continents.
