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| It is the world's
longest undersea tunnel |
| 1990: Tunnel links UK and Europe |
England have
Construction workers have drilled through the final wall of rock to
join the two halves of the Channel Tunnel and link Britain to France.
The momentous breakthrough links the UK to Europe for the first time
since the Ice Age, 8,000 years ago.
To a throng of cheers, construction workers celebrated with champagne -
the only time alcohol has been allowed underground on the work site.
French worker, Philippe Cozette, and his British counterpart, Robert
Fagg, waved flags and shook hands as the first men able to walk between
the two countries.
Only moments earlier at 1100 GMT, a half-metre wall of rock separated
Britain from mainline Europe.
The men continued drilling until a hole was created big enough to allow
vehicles through.
The first Britons walked through the tunnel to have their passports
stamped in France.
There were similar scenes on the other side as a French party which
drove into Folkestone, Kent, headed straight over to customs and
immigration officers.
Transport secretary Malcolm Rifkind was among the first through.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "The physical contact that has been
achieved between Britain and France today is symptomatic of many changes
that we have been experiencing in the last 20 years.
"It is all happening and it is continuing to happen at an accelerating
pace."
Downing Street called the event a "tribute to private enterprise".
The Channel Tunnel venture is expected to lead to the construction of a
high speed train link across Kent, to match one France has already built.
Work on the Channel Tunnel began in 1986 and it is due to be completed
by 1993.
