THE SNP have pledged to look at building a bridge from the mainland to the Cowal peninsula in an effort to reduce reliance on ferries.
The bridge would also provide an alternative to the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, which is frequently blocked by landslips.
The plans mentioned in the SNP manifesto reference a bridge “from Gourock to Dunoon” as one possibility to “explore the potential to build more fixed links to island and remote communities ... and work with island communities to reduce reliance on ferries".
Around six miles of water separates the two towns, but previous plans have highlighted a possible connection between Dunoon and Cloch Point, west of Gourock centre.
That bridge would be around 2.4 miles in length, approximately 0.7 miles longer than the Queensferry Crossing, which cost £1.35 billion to build.
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Transport Scotland considered but recently rejected the plans, citing “significant technical challenges” because the bridge would cross waters used by large ships and submarines.
David McKenzie, who helped to establish the Cowal Fixed Link Working group which has put forward a series of proposals, including routes over or under the Firth of Clyde, Loch Long, the Gareloch, the Holy Loch and Loch Fyne, previously told The National his preferred route would be across Loch Long.
He said a bridge south of Loch Goil, joining up with existing rail and road networks, could cost around £500 million.
Greenock and Inverclyde Labour MSP candidate Francesca Brennan rubbished the SNP bridge proposal, calling it an "unwanted gimmick".
She told The Scottish Sun: "During this election campaign and as a lifelong Inverclyde resident, I've had countless conversations with local people telling me passionately what they want Inverclyde's MSP to focus on. Not one person has mentioned a bridge from Gourock to Dunoon.”
Currently residents and visitors to Dunoon reach the central belt by taking a car and passenger ferry to from the town’s Hunter’s Quay to McInroy’s Point, Gourock, and then drive to Glasgow, or they can take a passenger-only ferry to Gourock which links up with the rail connection to Glasgow.
Alternatively, drivers between Glasgow and Dunoon can take the car along the A82 via Arrochar and on to the A83 and A815.
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Each journey takes between an hour and an half and two hours depending on the traffic and weather conditions.
However, residents often complain the passenger-only ferries are frequently called off because the weather is too rough for the relatively small boats.
SNP councillor Gordon Blair previously said the focus for transport links to the central belt should be on improving the ferry service.
He said: “The cost of the Fixed Link project could range from between £400m to £1.5bn.
“Wouldn’t it be more cost effective, and solve the connectivity issues sooner, if the ferry services were improved?
“To me it doesn’t make sense to spend all that money when a reliable ferry service should suffice.”
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