Tunnel Under the Bering Strait?

Backers Make Push for Russia-U.S. Tunnel

Tuesday April 24, 2:05 pm ET
By Alex Nicholson, AP Business Writer

A Tunnel Under the Bering Strait? -- Russian, U.S. Backers Make a New Push for an Old Idea

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070424/russia_tunnel_to_somewhere.html

Now die-hard supporters are renewing their push for the audacious plan -- a $65 billion highway project that would link two of the world's most inhospitable regions by burrowing under a stretch of water connecting the Pacific with the Arctic ocean.

"It's time to the rewrite the old slogan 'Workers of the world unite!'" said Walter Hickel, a former Alaska governor and interior secretary under President Richard Nixon. "It's time to proclaim, 'Workers - Unite the world!'"

The proposed 68-mile tunnel would be the longest in the world. It would also be the linchpin for a 3,700-mile railroad line stretching from Yakutsk -- the capital of a gold- and mineral-rich Siberian region roughly the size of India -- through extreme northeastern Russia, in waters up to 180 feet deep and into the western coast of Alaska. Winter temperatures there routinely hit minus 94 F.

By comparison, the undersea tunnel that is currently the world's longest -- the Chunnel, linking Britain and France -- is only 30 miles long.

The feasibility study alone would cost $120 million and would take two years to complete, organizers said. Actual construction of the road-rail-pipeline-cable effort could take up to 20 years.

 

I wonder what they are going to do about road links, what with the rediculously poor road network on the Russan side.

 

I think it is still too soon for something like this. It seems to me that U.S.-Russo relations are still a bit akward since that 45 year period of tension last century.

 

Wait till somebody realizes that the other one could send tanks and military forces through the tunnel.....

 

This would be the most awsome engineering project to date.

 

If they need a project manager, I'm available!

 

When I get the funding the job is yours.

 

Bah! There not going to take the Chunnel out of the records book! Count on that!
Besides, why not use big, fuel-guzzling-atmoshere-destroying aircraft instead? It's what they're there for!

 

Not in the day of Nuclear demolitions charges, lol.

That is the rub, though. A land connection between Siberia/Alaska would put the Chunnel too shame, lol.

 

More waste of resources, like the Alaskan bridge to no where. Good point, Kai, why would you create a nice little path for a dirty bomb or suicide truck/car bombs right into the oil fields? There is no economic gain other than white elephant jobs.

 

That's ok, the white elephant is a protected species.

 

This has always intrigued me. We could do it if we wanted too, start with a railroad from Siberia (they already exist and are in good condition) that has VERY heavy capacity and bring to all the way through Canada to the US, and why not even further? Maybe later add a highway system, that will be a challenge. The arctic is very unforgiving to roads when it comes to maintenance and general use.

I don't think it will ever happen in our lifetimes though, we can do it but we don't have the will.

 

Simply because it isn't feasible or profitable when there are container ships, oilers and aircraft.

Although, OT....Biodiesel Diesel trains are interesting and perhaps a resurgence in American rail for the econmomy???

Hears rimshot and cymbal crash in the background....All that's missing is in your best Russian accent....Thank you I will be here all week Stoi....Stoi......I am in stitches, spasibo......

 

HO, I really think you should get off the bottle

 

That's funny because alot I hear here makes me want to get on the bottle

 

Tunnel? I think not. Has the "Big Dig" stopped leaking? (16 million gallons of water are pumped out of NYC's underground every day, in 36 hours it would fill "back" up without people/pumps). Have they dug out all the slurry that should have been concrete?
Where was Za (as an incorruptible PM) when we needed him?
Another "New Deal" project for the new millennium...A giant ramp (with many pairs of rail-tracks) to the top of the atmosphere, so a swift kick will put a satellite in orbit, and a solid push will send spacecrafts on their way to wherever.
OR...A giant "sling-shot" (start re-cycling your rubber now), and then a giant cocking device, and then a giant catchers mitt, some Pyramids....I better stop, I'm giving Teddy/Hilarity too many ideas on how to boost the economy, by providing slave jobs.

Think of the energy/fuel savings?

They could also land on it and slide back down, (easy on the brakes, re-entry's a KILLER). Perhaps better lowered by cable down the tracks...like a ski-lift. First class (sleeper car/gourmet meals) for Royalty-of course-

 

Well I tried but I got the have to spread some rep around crap....Good post, you could also mention that the Big Pig also killed someone. That whole project was a crime and Romney just scratched the surface of uncovering the corruption before he left to run for Pres. Many should have been jailed. Now the Dems settled and covered everything up to save their arses.

In short the tunnel would be a security problem and not economically reasonable.

 

Sink a pair of "Pneumatic tubes" (with expansion joints)(PVC/CPVC)(don't forget to weight it down) from port to port. Pump the water out, make cargo containers into capsules (plenty of bubble wrap), either use vacuum or compressed air to send them back and forth.

Why deal with the people? I'm out of gas, I have a flat tire/dead battery. Is AAA going to be in the tunnel?

Nutz --Anthony McAullife--

Feasibility study DONE, I'll take my 120 Million now !!

 

I say do it, build that tunnel, easier access in case of an invasion!

 

Something like this should be done for all of thehighways in the US. Much better than driving for three days to cross the country.