A new tunnel proposed to be built under the Menai Strait to carry electric cables from the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant, is giving geologists the opportunity to study ancient rock formations on the bed of the Strait.
The new tunnel, which could be opened in the mid-2020s, would see cables laid to carry energy from Wylfa Newydd to the mainland.
Dr Mike Roberts from the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University told ’Good Morning Wales’ listeners how geology & marine geology surveyors are benefiting from samples from under the Menai Strait.
Drilling by National Grid has gone 50m into the sea bed and seen samples of rock brought up from under the straits. Geologists believe the rocks will be able to tell a story of the movement of land which was once south of the equator.
“The National grid are drilling holes in the Menai Striat, giving us a unique opportunity to take physical samples we wouldn‘t normally see, rather than using remote sensors.” explained Dr Roberts.
“These rocks there are 300 million years old and some much older than that.
“We know there are a sequence of rocks from about the time coal was being formed, which is hugely important. It will be really interesting to look at them in more detail.”
It has been suggested that the cables from Wylfa Newydd could be included in the proposed third Menai Bridge crossing, but Aled Rowlands of the National Grid said: “As things stand right now, the only way we can be sure to connect Wylfa Newydd into the electrical transmission system and to the people and businesses that need it is to develop a tunnel.”
