Most Expensive Construction Projects Ever in the World
The present development and progress in the world is the evolutionary result of human brain power and earthly sources. It won’t be inappropriate to say that only human brain power wouldn’t have been sufficient without earthly sources. Now a days money has come forward as the briefest and compact form of earthly sources. Expensive projects are being launched day by day to sail out in the sea of development. Money makes the mare go or we can say that money changes the world, sometimes literally. The human race of present era can build and move massive things, with an incredible speed. The present human has dug through mountains, made new islands, diverted rivers, and many other impossible things that were once considered impossible even in near past. This journey of development is not going to stop at any rate.
Man has worked out on many projects for the development. Different projects have been launched in different parts of the world. Here we are going to present the list of the ten most expensive construction projects that have ever been completed in the history of mankind. Maximum of these projects were not among the most expensive projects at their initial time, but at the time of their completion they had consumed so much resources that now they are among the most expensive projects.
10. The Channel Tunnel – $22.4
Billion
In the list of the most expensive
construction projects of the world, The Channel Tunnel comes on 10th number.
This project is also named as the “Chunnel,” by French side of the project as
this Channel Tunnel spans beneath the stretch of water between the Southern
coast of England and the Northern coast of France. The 31 km long channel was
started with a view to enhance commerce and trade between England and France.
It cost fifteen French and British companies $22.4 billion to get it completed.
And, the channel is operated by the financing group Eurotunnel. Though the
initial estimated cost was less than the cost the project consumed. Some main
reasons were Escalating demands for safety, security, and environmental
measures.
Tunnel boring machines began
excavating for the projects in 1988. And, in 1994, the tunnel became
functional. It was tragic enough that ten workers died in the construction
phase. The Channel Tunnel comprises of three parts: two rail tunnels that are
25 feet in diameter each, and one service tunnel 16 feet in diameter. Each span
31 miles underground.
There is a long tragic history of
mishaps and misfortunes regarding this channel. There have been many fire
incidents in the Channel Tunnel. These incidents caused not only severe injuries
but took many lives as well.
9. The Big Dig – $23.1 Billion
Another US project stands 9th in the
list of the most expensive construction projects of the world. This project
with a name of BIG DIG has an estimated cost of$23.1 Billion.
According to the project, there is a
plan of rerouting some major highways in the Boston area. The main artery of
the road network in the area, Route I-93, was redirected to go directly beneath
the middle of the city. It is regretful to note that many obstacles got in the
way of the project, including some sunken ships which had to be
anthropologically examined before they could be moved. The Big Dig ended over
ten years behind schedule. And it cost millions of dollars more than it was
expected to.
It is also not a good thing to know
about the project that it was plagued with financial and administrative
problems, including some major design flaws which the state had to pay nearly
$400 million in restitution for. Tragically, one death occurred during
construction, when a concrete slab fell onto a car from the ceiling of the Fort
Point Channel Tunnel.
8. Kansai International Airport –
$29 Billions
Japanese
Kansai International Airport is 8th in the list of the most expensive construction
projects of the world. The airport cost an estimated $29 billion to construct.
The airport is constructed on an artificial island, which was constructed to
resist the semi-frequent earthquakes and tidal waves of the
region. The second reason for building it in the water was to avoid noise
illnesses.
The idea behind its construction was
that Kobe and Osaka were losing trade to Tokyo. In this condition plans for the
airport were introduced in the 1960’s. Metal support columns and other
structural pieces have had to be added to it over the years, in order to
prevent it from sinking. A second terminal was added in 2012, and connected to
Terminal 1 via a free shuttle. It is located off Japan, in the middle of Osaka
Bay.
7. California High Speed Rail – $33
Billion
The seventh
most expensive construction project of the world is California High Speed Rail.
Its estimated cost is 33 Billion US Dollars. This project was started in 2015
and scheduled to be done with Phase 1 by 2029. The California High-Speed Rail
project is already way over its original budget. The basic purpose of this
project (one of the most expensive in the world, under Obama’s vision) was to
connect some of the major US cities by high-speed rail.
According to the schedule, the
initial segment will connect Merced to Bakersfield. Ultimately, it will link
San Francisco and Los Angeles. The rails in this project will be able to
achieve a speed up to 220 miles per hour interlinking different states of America.
6. Songdo International Business
District – $40 Billions
Among the most expensive projects of
the world Songdo International Business District stands 6th in the list. South
Korea has launched this project near Incheon International Airport. Its
estimated cost price is $40 billion. The project is being built on land
reclaimed from the ocean off of Seoul, South Korea. It will be a “smart city”
like no other, complete with automatic recycling plants ubiquitous WiFi, and
many other technological innovations. Korea is the first country to present
this model in the world.
Some models of landmarks from other
cities will be built there, including one of Central Park. According to blue
prints it will have a small island full of various birds, rabbits, and deer
that roam around. Songdo IBD is being built to attract businesses and tourists.
China is also in follow up of this project but still with vague blue prints.
5. Dubailand – $76 Billions
Dubailand is
the 5th project in the list of the most expensive projects of the world. Design
aspects of Dubailand is based on Arabian Folklore, specifically the tale ALAF LAILA Wa LAILA(One Thousand and One
Nights). The project with an estimated cost of $76 Billion was started
enthusiastically but its construction was halted in 2008, because of a
financial crisis in Dubai. It resumed in 2013. When it will get finished, it
will be one of the largest and most expensive entertainment facilities in the
world. A Disney theme park, IMAX theater, and many other attractions are in its
plans.
The impetus behind the project was
that some thought Dubai needed a major attraction that was geared towards
families, to compete with other cities in the region for tourism. Dubai wanted
to make its repute other than trade domain as well.
4. King Abdullah Economic City – $86
Billions
King Abdullah economic City project
is one of the most expensive projects of the world. It stands 4th in the list.
Still it is not finished. When finished, the King Abdullah Economic City will
be have an estimated cost of $86 billion. Located a little over an hour
away from Makkah, the project city is certain to become a grand new tourist
attraction for Saudi Arabia. The city will include entertainment centers, high
class hotels, many luxury villas, some significant universities, and a massive
airport.
The King
Abdullah economic City is mostly being built by international real estate group
Emaar Properties. The group is well known for building the world’s tallest building, the Burj al Khalifa, in Dubai. Another
company Ericsson will be working on the information and communication
technology.
Photo by:http://www.watg.com/project/king-abdullah-economic-city-kaec-saudi-arabia-architecture-planning/
3. Kashagan Fields – $116 Billions
The 3rd most expensive construction
project of the world is kashagan fields. $116 billion has been spent on fixing
it. It is a multinational project. The companies involved in it are: Total,
Shell, Exxon Mobil, China National Petroleum Corp, INPEX KazMunaiGas, and
AgipKCO, with Shell responsible for the production phase. It is an oil
extracting project launched in the Caspian Sea. The Kashagan Fields represent
the largest oil discovery made in the last 40 years. It is expected to produce
more than 90,000 barrels of oil per day after 2018. Some unexpected troubles
caused the project to get a little bit late like leaks in its pipes. The other
main difficulty to delay it was that the fields are under high pressure, which
makes drilling into them very hazardous at large. Apart from all these
obstacles the project is now operational.
2. The International Space Station –
$150 Billions
The multinational project; The
International Space Station is second in the list of the most expensive
construction projects. The modular orbiting research station known as the
International Space Station cost approximately $150 billion to complete. The
countries contributing in its construction are; The US, Spain, Russia, Canada,
France, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway,
Switzerland and Sweden.
Another wonder about the fate of the
ISS is that it will be crashed into the ocean, in the year 2020. That will be
after 26 years of service. The Space Shuttle and Russian rockets were the main
apparatuses used for making the ISS. All the modules used in it were built on
Earth, then they were assembled in space.
1. The US Interstate Highway System
– $459 Billion
While we go to look for the most expensive
construction project of the world. We find that it is The Us Interstate Highway
System. This project costed America $459 billion. It is the most expensive
project of the world in the known human history. The President Dwight D.
Eisenhower initiated it with the idea that it would help mobilize infantry in
an emergency. He proposed the project as being crucial for national defense.
Its basic purpose was not transportation. The project was initiated in 1956.
This most expensive project of the world involved creating new routes, and
converting old routs to serve as “interstates or interlinkers among American
states.” Nebraska was the first state to complete all of its internal parts for
the Interstate Highway System in 1974. The project was given the final touch in
1992, the I-70 through Colorado.
This most expensive construction
project has paid back to America many times than its cost price. The road web
was very helpful while the hurricane Katrina was devastating everything.
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