Top 10 most expensive infrastructure projects
The world’s top 10 most expensive infrastructure projects are all massive undertakings that will require billions of dollars in investment. Some of these projects are already underway, while others are still in the planning stages. All of them are sure to have a major impact on the countries and regions where they are built.
1 US Interstate Highway System – $ 459 billion
The United States interstate highway system is one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in history. The 459 billion dollar project completed in 1956 and has used by billions of people since. The system consists of over 47,000 miles of highways and used by millions of people every day. The system has credited with helping to create the modern American economy and has vital to the country’s growth.
2 International Space Station – $ 150 billion
The International Space Station is a joint project between several countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe. Construction began in 1998 and it has continuously inhabited since 2000. It the most expensive single item ever built, with a price tag of $150 billion.
The space station used for a variety of research projects and has been home to a number of famous astronauts, including the first woman to command it, Peggy Whitson. In addition to its scientific mission, the space station has also used as a filming location for a number of movies and TV shows, including The Martian and Lost in Space.
3 Kashagan fields – $ 116 billion
The Kashagan oil field is an oil field in Kazakhstan. It is the world’s largest offshore oilfield by total area. The field is located in the Caspian Sea, north of the Mangystau Region. It operated by the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC).
The Kashagan oil field discovered in 2000. It estimated to contain around 38 billion barrels (4.97×109 m3) of oil, making it one of the largest oil fields in the world. Production from the field began in 2016.
The Kashagan oil field is one of the most expensive oil field development projects in the world, with an estimated cost of $116 billion.
4 Economic City King Abdullah – $ 86 billion
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in infrastructure development, with a particular focus on its cities. The Kingdom has earmarked $86 billion for infrastructure development in its four economic cities, which are currently under construction.
The four economic cities developed in different parts of the country in order to promote economic growth and diversification. They currently in various stages of development, with the first city, King Abdullah Economic City, expected to completed by 2025.
The other three cities are the Jizan Economic City, the Knowledge Economic City and the Prince Abdulaziz bin Mousaed Economic City.
The development of the economic cities is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and diversify the economy.
The economic cities expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and attract billions of dollars of investment. They will also provide a boost to the construction and manufacturing sectors.
The development of the economic cities is a major undertaking and will require a significant amount of planning and investment. However, if successful, they could transform the Saudi economy and provide significant benefits to the people of the Kingdom.
5 Dubai land – $ 76+ billion
The United Arab Emirates renowned for its grandiose architecture and luxurious lifestyle. The city of Dubai is the jewel in the crown of this Arabian powerhouse, and is home to some of the most expensive and impressive infrastructure projects in the world. Here are the top 10 most expensive infrastructure projects in Dubai.
1. The Palm Jumeirah – $12.3 billion
The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial archipelago in the United Arab Emirates, created using land reclamation. It is one of the world’s largest man-made islands, and is home to a number of luxury hotels, resorts and residential properties. The Palm Jumeirah the first of three Palm Islands to developed in Dubai, and cost an estimated $12.3 billion to construct.
2. The Palm Jebel Ali – $20 billion
The Palm Jebel Ali the second of the three Palm Islands to developed in Dubai. It located just offshore from the city, and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The Palm Jebel Ali is larger than the Palm Jumeirah, and includes a number of man-made lagoons and canals. It is currently still under construction, and expected to cost a total of $20 billion.
3. The World Islands – $13 billion
The World Islands are a group of man-made islands located offshore from Dubai. They designed to resemble a map of the world, and made up of over 300 individual islands. The World Islands are home to a number of luxury hotels and resorts, as well as residential properties. They cost an estimated $13 billion to construct.
4. The Burj Khalifa – $1.5 billion
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. It is located in the downtown area of Dubai, and stands at an impressive 828 metres (2,717 feet) tall. The Burj Khalifa cost an estimated $1.5 billion to construct, and took six years to build.
5. The Burj Al Arab – $1 billion
The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel
6 Songdo International Business District – $ 40+ billion
The Songdo International Business District a 40 billion dollar project in South Korea that designed to a model for sustainable, “smart” cities of the future. When completed, it will be home to over 65,000 people and feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a “universal” broadband network, a waste-to-energy plant, and a network of parks and open spaces.
The Songdo IBD built 1,500 acres of reclaimed land Incheon, South Korea, 30 miles from Seoul. The project developed by a consortium of companies led by Gale International and Posco E&C, with funding from the South Korean government and private investors.
The Songdo IBD designed to a model for sustainable urban development. It will feature a “universal” broadband network that will provide high-speed Internet access to all residents and businesses. The district will also have a waste-to-energy plant that will convert municipal solid waste into electricity and heat.
The Songdo IBD will also feature a network of parks and open spaces. The district will have a Central Park that is twice the size of New York City’s Central Park, as well as a waterfront park along the Incheon waterfront.
The Songdo IBD scheduled to completed in 2020.
7 California High-Speed Rail Line – $ 33 billion\
In 2008, California voters passed a ballot measure authorizing the construction of a high-speed rail system linking the state’s major cities. The project originally estimated to cost $33 billion and completed by 2028. However, the project has beset by delays and cost overruns, and the latest estimate is that it will cost $77 billion and completed by 2033.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is responsible for planning, designing, building and operating the high-speed rail system. The Authority overseen by a nine-member board, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
The project built in phases. The first phase, which is currently under construction, will link Los Angeles and San Francisco via the Central Valley. The second phase will extend the system to Sacramento and San Diego.
As of June 2019, the project is about 25% complete and is behind schedule and over budget. The main reasons for the delays and cost overruns are due to problems with the environmental review process, land acquisition, utility relocation and construction.
Despite the challenges, the project continues to move forward and expected to provide a much needed boost to the state’s economy. When complete, it will provide a fast, efficient and sustainable transportation option for California’s growing population.
8 Kansai International Airport – $ 29 billion
Kansai International Airport is the second busiest airport in Japan and the seventh busiest airport in Asia. The airport is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay off the Honshu coast, 38 km (24 mi) southwest of Osaka Station and 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Kyoto Station. It serves as a hub for All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines, and also serves as an Asian-Pacific hub for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
The airport designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and opened in 1994. It built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay to relieve overcrowding at Osaka International Airport, which is now Osaka Domestic Airport. It connected to the mainland by the world’s longest airport suspension bridge, the Great Seto Bridge, which took 10 years to build at a cost of 29 billion.
The airport has two main terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. It also has a dedicated cargo terminal. In 2019, the airport handled 33,607,158 passengers and 2,032,195 tons of cargo.
Kansai International Airport is a critical transport hub for the Kansai region and beyond. The airport served by a network of domestic and international flights, as well as by a high-speed rail link to Osaka Station. The airport connected to the mainland by the Great Seto Bridge, the world’s longest airport suspension bridge.
The airport has ranked as one of the world’s best airports by various publications. In 2019, it ranked the seventh best airport in Asia and the second best airport in Japan by Skytrax.
9 Big Dig Boston Tunnel – $ 23.1 billion
The Big Dig in Boston is one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in US history. The total cost of the project estimated at $23.1 billion. The project initiated in the early 1990s to replace the aging Central Artery highway with a new tunnel system. The project completed in 2007.
The Big Dig has criticized for its cost overruns and delays. The project originally estimated to cost $2.6 billion and completed by 1998. However, the final cost more than ten times the original estimate and the project not completed until 2007. The Big Dig has also criticized for its impact on the environment and its effect on traffic congestion in the city of Boston.
10 Channel Tunnel – $ 22.4 billion
The Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, is a 50.5-kilometre (31.4 mi) undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent, in the United Kingdom, with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is 75 m (250 ft) deep below the sea bed and 115 m (380 ft) below sea level.
The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, the Eurotunnel Shuttle vehicle transport service, and international freight trains. It connects with the UK’s national rail network at London St Pancras and with the French high-speed rail network at Gare du Nord.
The construction of the Channel Tunnel was a major engineering achievement of the late 20th century. It involved the construction of two rail tunnels between England and France, each of which is 50.5 km in length, as well as a service tunnel and an access tunnel. The two main tunnels bored using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), while the service and access tunnels constructed using the cut-and-cover method.
The Channel Tunnel is the second longest undersea tunnel in the world, after the Seikan Tunnel in Japan. It is also the largest underwater structure in the world, larger than the Øresund Bridge.
The project approved by the British and French governments in 1986, and construction began in 1988. The tunnel originally scheduled to open in 1993, but the project delayed by several years due to technical difficulties and financial problems. It finally opened to rail traffic on May 6, 1994.
The tunnel has used by Eurostar trains since 1994, and by the Eurotunnel Shuttle vehicle transport service since 1995. It has also used by international freight trains since 1997.
The tunnel operated by Eurotunnel, a joint venture between the British and French governments.
The Channel Tunnel has had a number of notable incidents since it opened. In 1996, a fire broke out on a Eurotunnel Shuttle train, resulting in the death of one passenger. In 2000, a
Top 10 most expensive infrastructure projects
Infrastructure a term usually used to refer to the basic physical systems of a country, state, city or organization. It includes the roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, water supply and sewage systems, power plants and transmission lines, telecommunications, and so on. It the foundation on which a society built and is essential for economic development and social progress.
The cost of constructing and maintaining infrastructure can be very high. Here is a list of the ten most expensive infrastructure projects in the world.
1. The Three Gorges Dam in China is the most expensive infrastructure project in the world, with a cost of US$50 billion. The dam is located on the Yangtze River and is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world.
2. The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway in China is the second most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$33 billion. The railway is 1,318 kilometers (819 miles) long and connects the two largest cities in China.
3. The Channel Tunnel between France and the United Kingdom is the third most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$22 billion. The tunnel 50 kilometers (31 miles) long and used for high-speed rail service.
4. The South-North Water Transfer Project in China is the fourth most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$20 billion. The project includes three canals that transfer water from the south of China to the arid north.
5. The Hong Kong International Airport is the fifth most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$19 billion. The airport is one of the busiest in the world and is a major hub for air travel in Asia.
6. The California High-Speed Rail is the sixth most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$16 billion. The rail line will connect the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
7. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway in Ethiopia is the seventh most expensive infrastructure project, with a cost of US$14 billion. The railway is 756 kilometers (470 miles) long and runs through some of
Conclusion
The top 10 most expensive infrastructure projects are all large-scale endeavors that require significant investment. However, these projects also have the potential to bring great economic and social benefits to the areas where they are located. Given the high costs, it important that careful planning and execution takes place to ensure that these projects completed successfully and provide the intended benefits.