Skip to main content
added floating, underwater tunnel
Source Link
Robin Bennett
  • 1.3k
  • 9
  • 12

Hovercraft can cross both water and ice (or, as this is Russia, Ekranoplanes). For a given weight of cargo, they're more expensive than boats but cheaper than aircraft.

Otherwise the ferry/ice road solution is workable if the ferries are ice breakers (and stay well clear of the road). An ice breaking ship can sail though ice that's thick enough to drive on, so instead of a period where you can't use either, both could be active. Perhaps heavy vehicles travel by ferry until the ice is thick enough for them to drive.

Ice roads can be thickened and strengthened by pumping water up through holes (on cold days) so that it freezes on the surface. These roads take longer to melt than the regular thinner, ice, which would also extend the season.

Bridges and tunnels are both not affordable, even with current day technology.

A possible near-future technology is a floating, underwater tunnel (as considered for crossing much narrower fjords in Norway). This is anchored to the seabed, but just deep enough that ships (and ice) can pass over it. No one has built one yet.

Hovercraft can cross both water and ice (or, as this is Russia, Ekranoplanes). For a given weight of cargo, they're more expensive than boats but cheaper than aircraft.

Otherwise the ferry/ice road solution is workable if the ferries are ice breakers (and stay well clear of the road). An ice breaking ship can sail though ice that's thick enough to drive on, so instead of a period where you can't use either, both could be active. Perhaps heavy vehicles travel by ferry until the ice is thick enough for them to drive.

Ice roads can be thickened and strengthened by pumping water up through holes (on cold days) so that it freezes on the surface. These roads take longer to melt than the regular thinner, ice, which would also extend the season.

Bridges and tunnels are both not affordable, even with current day technology.

Hovercraft can cross both water and ice (or, as this is Russia, Ekranoplanes). For a given weight of cargo, they're more expensive than boats but cheaper than aircraft.

Otherwise the ferry/ice road solution is workable if the ferries are ice breakers (and stay well clear of the road). An ice breaking ship can sail though ice that's thick enough to drive on, so instead of a period where you can't use either, both could be active. Perhaps heavy vehicles travel by ferry until the ice is thick enough for them to drive.

Ice roads can be thickened and strengthened by pumping water up through holes (on cold days) so that it freezes on the surface. These roads take longer to melt than the regular thinner, ice, which would also extend the season.

Bridges and tunnels are both not affordable, even with current day technology.

A possible near-future technology is a floating, underwater tunnel (as considered for crossing much narrower fjords in Norway). This is anchored to the seabed, but just deep enough that ships (and ice) can pass over it. No one has built one yet.

Source Link
Robin Bennett
  • 1.3k
  • 9
  • 12

Hovercraft can cross both water and ice (or, as this is Russia, Ekranoplanes). For a given weight of cargo, they're more expensive than boats but cheaper than aircraft.

Otherwise the ferry/ice road solution is workable if the ferries are ice breakers (and stay well clear of the road). An ice breaking ship can sail though ice that's thick enough to drive on, so instead of a period where you can't use either, both could be active. Perhaps heavy vehicles travel by ferry until the ice is thick enough for them to drive.

Ice roads can be thickened and strengthened by pumping water up through holes (on cold days) so that it freezes on the surface. These roads take longer to melt than the regular thinner, ice, which would also extend the season.

Bridges and tunnels are both not affordable, even with current day technology.