Construction is an important front for solidify the foundations of a thriving country and creating bases for the people's happy life.
Take a journey through the world’s most expensive constructions.
The Interstate Highway System, $459 billion
- The Interstate Highway System was created on June 29, 1956, This connects more than 47,000 miles in America and has cost the taxpayer a huge $459 billion.
- The project involved creating new routes and converting old ones, to serve as ‘interstates’
- Work began in 1955 proposed the project as being crucial for national defense and to help mobilize infantry in an emergency. By 1960, more than 10,000 miles had been completed.
- The original program was completed in 35 years, but it was extended in later years to cover more than 47,000 miles.
- At the 50th anniversary of its creation, total cost was estimated at $425 billion (nearly $500 billion today), but the American Highway Users Alliance estimates that this project has produced more than $6 in economic benefit for every $1 of construction expense.
The International Space Station, $150 billion
- The ISS orbits Earth and enables scientists to conduct experiments in astronomy, biology, and physics.
- Built-in 1994 on Earth and assembled in space, fourteen countries worked together to complete this project. The main tools used were Russian rockets and the space shuttle.
- After 26 years of service, the ISS, one of the most expensive projects in history is to be crashed into the ocean in 2020.
Kashagan Fields, $116 billion
- Kashagan oil and gas field in Kazakhstan is the most expensive energy project in the world.
- Its development has already absorbed $116 billion, which makes the project one of the most expensive discoveries of the last 40 years.
- It is located in the Caspian Sea, and the commercial production was begun in September 2013.
- Part of the construction includes building man-made islands in a sea frozen for large periods of time. Leaks in pipes and other difficulties have caused delays in construction of the project, and the fields are under high pressure making drilling into them very dangerous.
- The operation is expected to start during 2017 and to produce over 90,000 barrels of oil per day. Experts estimate the production yield to total as much as 13 billion barrels of retrievable oil.
King Abdullah Economic City, $95 billion
- The real estate group Emaar Properties, who is known for building Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building is into yet another project.
- Construction of the Saudi Arabian city started is expected to be finished in 2020, yet in 2015, only 15 percent had been completed.
- Named after the late King Abdullah, the city will be slightly larger than Washington D.C. and will house 2 million residents.
- Located over an hour away from Mecca, the city is set to become a new tourist attraction for Saudi Arabia and will boast high-class hotels, luxury villas, prestigious universities, and a massive airport.
Dubailand, $76 billion+
- Construction was halted on this project in 2008, because of a financial crisis in Dubai, and then resumed in 2013. So far, it has cost investors $76 billion.
- If finished, it will be one of the largest and most expensive entertainment facilities in the world. A Disney theme park, IMAX Theater, and many others are in its plans.
- Design aspects of Dubailand will be based on Arabian Folklore, specifically the tale One Thousand and One Nights.
- 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.
California High-Speed Rail, $33 billion+
- Work on the California High-Speed Rail started in 2015, and phase 1 is set to be completed by 2029. It is already way over its original budget and is tipped to reach $98.5 billion.
- The first phase is planned to run between Madera and Bakersfield and was one of President Obama’s first-term pledges, to connect the major US cities by high-speed rail.
- The high speed ‘bullet train’ will stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with rails that can support travel up to 220 mph.
Kensai International Airport, $29 billion
- The cost of the airport is estimated to be $29 billion. The airport is on an artificial island, in the mid of Osaka Bay, Japan...
- It is the hub for Japan Airlines, Nippon Airways, Nippon Cargo and Peach- a low-cost international carrier.
- The airport started its operations on Sept. 4th, 1994, to reduce traffic at the international airport of Osaka.
- It was built in the water, resting on a man-made island in order to resist earthquakes, tidal waves, and noise complaints.
