Large construction projects are like modern era wonders of the world, and in recent times we have seen some of the most magnificent megaprojects of human history. We see the biggest boom in the construction industry with so many airports, canals, subways under construction.
These projects are not just infrastructure construction, but the technologies inside are megaprojects on their own. The projects have huge impacts on societies, how populations live and move around, and can change the course of human history.
Largest On-going Megaprojects
California High-Speed Rail
This project has been in the news for a long time, with its first announcement in 2008. It is a State of California public-funded project that is projected to connect California under one rail service that will go from Anaheim to Los Angeles to San Francisco and cover the distance of 380 miles from LA to San Francisco in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
It has 24 stations, and the total length of the track is 800 miles (1300 km) with a double track and a top speed of 350 km/h or 220 mph. California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) handling this project and recently re-estimated the whole project is to be between $63 billion to $98.1 billion.
Dubailand
This project is the pinnacle of the most ambitious leisure developments with its $64.3 billion price tag. This is an entertainment complex built in Dubai with the world’s largest complex of megaprojects inside this one huge city. It has a 278 sq km area, and 45 mega projects are under development in Dubailand.
The project was announced back in 2003 but was halted due to recession and Dubai money crisis, and the construction again started in 2013. On completion, it will be the largest entertainment complex in the world that will have more area than three Disneylands combined, basically bigger than Dubai or many world cities.
It will have different zones like Attractions and Experience world, Retail and Entertainment World, Themed Leisure and Vacation World, Eco-tourism World, and Downtown, which will have the City of Arabia.
Al Maktoum International Airport
There is no wonder that Dubai is on this list for the most part. Dubai has been the hub of large megaprojects of the world for quite a while now, and they are here with another project, this time an airport.
This is a Dubai government project in Jebel Ali that started in 2010 and now has an expansion project that is expected to be completed in 2027. The whole project area is 35,000 acres, with a cost of $36 billion. The annual passenger capacity will be around 200-260 million. This will make it the biggest airport in the world when completed. The limited operations of the airport are in process as of 2019.
New Administrative Capital Egypt
As the name suggests, Egypt is building a whole new city right in the desert, replacing Cairo as its capital once completed. The first phase of the project alone is going to cost more than $45 billion. The government has planned to reshape the urban living standards with this project with a meticulously planned solar-powered city, with skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and a Central Park themed green space. Still, double Disneyland themed entertainment city but four times the size.
HS2, London/Birmingham UK
Another rail project in the list, this time from the UK. This is the flagship High-Speed rail project from England, which was given a green signal to start earlier this year. This will be the largest infrastructure project in Europe with a whopping cost of $125 billion.
The first phase of the project will complete in 2028 and will link London to Birmingham. The final project will cover the whole UK.
