Most Useless Megaprojects In The World

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Various construction projects worldwide, like the H-3 Interstate, St. Francis Dam, Xiangyun Project, HZMB bridge, Crazy Horse statue, Arena De Amazonia stadium, and Giant Gundam suit, have faced issues like cost overruns, collapses, low attendance, and controversy. Meanwhile, nuclear projects like Monju in Japan have failed in energy production due to technical faults, mishaps, and public opposition, leading to closure and costly deconstruction efforts.

Insights

  • The construction of various ambitious projects worldwide, such as the H-3 Interstate in Hawaii, the St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles, and the Xiangyun International Project in China, has been marred by controversies, accidents, and abandonment, highlighting the risks and challenges associated with large-scale developments.
  • The Monju nuclear power station in Japan, designed as a prototype fast-breeder reactor for energy efficiency, faced numerous technical failures, safety issues, and mishaps, ultimately leading to its closure in 2016 after minimal power production, massive costs, and public backlash against nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster.

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Recent questions

  • What is the H-3 Interstate in Hawaii?

    A highway connecting Honolulu to a Marine Corps Base.

  • What happened to the St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles?

    It collapsed in 1928, causing a catastrophic flood.

  • What is the Xiangyun International Project in China?

    A $3 billion development that was abandoned.

  • What are the crossing permit rules for the HZMB bridge system in China?

    Strict rules limiting use to select individuals.

  • What is the status of the Crazy Horse statue in South Dakota?

    Unfinished after decades with controversy over sacred land.

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Summary

00:00

Costly construction projects face challenges and controversy.

  • The H-3 Interstate in Hawaii cost $1.3 billion to build, connecting Honolulu to a Marine Corps Base, despite protests due to destruction of sacred sites.
  • The St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles, built by William Mulholland, collapsed in 1928, causing a catastrophic flood and leaving 431 people dead.
  • Xiangyun International Project in China, a $3 billion development, was abandoned after the CEO's arrest, leaving the city empty and in debt.
  • The HZMB bridge system in China, costing $18.8 billion, has strict crossing permit rules, limiting its use to a select few individuals.
  • The Crazy Horse statue in South Dakota, meant to be massive, remains unfinished after decades, with little progress and controversy over its impact on sacred land.
  • The Arena De Amazonia stadium in Manaus, Brazil, built for the World Cup, struggles with low attendance and poor post-event use, despite costing $300 million.
  • The Giant Gundam suit in Yokohama, Japan, a 59-foot tall model, is mostly a tourist attraction with limited movement capabilities, costing a significant amount.
  • Donald Trump's border wall project between the US and Mexico, costing $15 billion, has only completed 450 miles, with maintenance costs estimated at $28 billion annually.
  • The Monju nuclear power station in Japan has only produced one hour of power since its approval in 1983, highlighting its significant failure in energy production.

15:49

"Costly failures in nuclear, ecological, and maritime projects"

  • Monju is a prototype fast-breeder reactor aimed at recycling used nuclear fuel for energy efficiency.
  • The reactor faced major faults in 14,000 components, including safety features.
  • In 1995, a fire incident occurred, concealed by editing security footage.
  • In 2010, a refueling machine fell into the reactor, causing significant damage.
  • Monju continued operation despite multiple mishaps until 2011 when Fukushima disaster shifted public opinion against nuclear power.
  • Monju, costing $12 billion, was closed in 2016 for deconstruction, a process set to last until 2047, costing an additional $3.4 billion.
  • Malaysia's Forest City project, meant to be an ecological marvel, faced challenges with sales and occupancy due to targeting Chinese buyers and external spending caps.
  • The project, causing ecological damage, struggled due to high prices and economic crises, with only 500 residents out of a target of 700,000.
  • Lotus Riverside Project in Shanghai faced a collapse due to soil pressure from excavation, leading to damages and cleanup costs.
  • The Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in 2012, costing $2 billion, resulted from the captain's deviation from the planned course, leading to casualties and scrapping of the ship.
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