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Massive megaprojects hiding in plain sight

The almost-invisible megaprojects that have changed our world
Lærdal Tunnel, Norway: $181 million (£148m)
Amundsen-Scott Research Station, Antarctica: $321 million (£263m)
Walney Offshore Wind Farm Extension, UK: $1.2 billion (£1bn)
Hallandsås Rail Tunnel, Sweden: $1.37 billion (£1.12bn)
Sound Transit University Link Light Rail Extension, US, $2.04 billion (£1.67bn)
Gemini Offshore Wind Park, North Sea, Netherlands: $3.3 billion (£2.7bn)
State Route 99 (SR 99) Tunnel, US, at least $3.4 billion (£2.6bn)
Delhi Metro Phase I, India, $3.64 billion (£2.98bn)
Thames Tideway Tunnel, UK: $5.19 billion (£4.3bn)
Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm, UK: $5.2 billion (£4.3bn)
Marmaray Tunnel, Turkey: $5.7 billion (£4.7bn)
Large Hadron Collider, Switzerland: $6.54 billion (£5.42bn)
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, US: $6.9 billion (£5.7bn)
James Webb Space Telescope: $10 billion (£8.3bn)
Panama Canal, Panama, $11 billion (£9.1bn)
Toei Oedo subway line, Japan: $12 billion (£10 bn)
Channel Tunnel, UK/France: $12.4 billion (£10.3bn)
Gotthard Base Tunnel, Swiss Alps: $15 billion (£12.5bn)
Hubble Space Telescope: $16 billion (£13bn)
London Crossrail, UK: More than $23 billion (£19bn)
Trans-Alaska Pipeline system, US: $39 billion (£32bn)
Chuo Shinkansen, Japan: $50.3 billion (£38.5bn)
Kashagan Offshore Oil Field, Kazakhstan: $70 billion (£58bn)
International Space Station: $100-$150 billion (£82-124bn)
Hanford Nuclear Waste Site, US: $300 to $640 billion (£249-530bn)
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Martin Drahomirecky/Shutterstock

The almost-invisible megaprojects that have changed our world

Megaprojects aren't always an eyesore – in fact, some are practically invisible. Whether they're located in the middle of the ocean, underground or in outer space, these huge construction projects might be hidden from view but that doesn't stop them costing eye-watering sums of money or taking decades to complete. Click or scroll through to find out about the labyrinthine underground tunnels and remote megaprojects that are hiding in plain sight.

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Frances Carruthers

05 February 2020

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