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.
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.
For assistance with your next construction or insurance needs visit our website
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Information
supplied, Courtesy of Ejaz Khan, mathematician and Blogger