NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=home&sid=a0bsMii8oKXw

64 mile tunnel...

This would be awesome. I can see it being good for Siberia and Alaska for economic reasons.

It would also be fun to travel in the tunnel, just to say you had done it.

Your opinion on this tunnel?

Sounds like a very interesting project.

So a 64 mile tunnel from the frozen asshole of the world to the frozen asshole of the world?


It's fuckin cold up there, can you imagine trying to tunnel?

You fools! It's all a plan by the Neo Soviet Empire! Once that tunnel is built, you'll have the whole Russian Tank Corps trundling all the way over to Anchorage, and there'll be no-one to stop them! They want to take back Russian America!

the article isnt very specific about just where this tunnel will be built but when i pulled out my road atlas the narrowest point is to a spot in alaska that you cant get to by car.

the closest city that has roads is nome, population 3500.

there would have to be a massive project for infrastructure built across the length and breadth of alaska. roads, rails, powerline, etc built through the cold, the permafrost, the mountains. all built from scratch.

it seems financially unfeasable to me.

They mentioned having to build 6,000km worth of roads, rail, powerlines, etc.

It's all part of the project.

And if you build infrastructure, and move cargo and power, people will come and develop.

I think it's a grand idea.

I smell Ted Stevens behind this.

Therefore I am against it.

I smell Ted Stevens behind this.

Therefore I am against it.

I smell Putin.

That's a long way to drive in a tunnel, sub zero, under the pacific, it'll take a long time, I wouldn't fancy it.

I smell Putin.

*GM Tube crackles*

I detect Polonium.

I smell Putin.

They are both short and have bad dress sense.

So a 64 mile tunnel from the frozen asshole of the world to the frozen asshole of the world?


It's fuckin cold up there, can you imagine trying to tunnel?
I agree -- this is a ridiculous waste of time and resources. We should be focusing our attention on a much more important project: building a causeway from Antarctica to Tierra del Fuego.

Seems like insanity to me, or a joke.

That distance underground is insanely costly to build and maintain. Couple that with its location along the "ring of fire" (earthquakes/volcanoes)! It a road needs to be built at all, why not a floating bridge/causeway of some sort? Something that long needs flexibility to survive.

I agree -- this is a ridiculous waste of time and resources. We should be focusing our attention on a much more important project: building a causeway from Antarctica to Tierra del Fuego.

Indeed, it's not like there is any pressing need for infrastructure where people actually live.

Wow. I'd technically be able to walk from Aberdeen to Buenos Aires. Or from Miami to Cape town.

Indeed, it's not like there is any pressing need for infrastructure where people actually live.
The penguins need somewhere to drive for the winter...

Your opinion on this tunnel?

No way in hell would I go in that tunnel. I'm not afraid of tunnels falling in on me, I'm afraid I'll go insane and kill everyone. Over an hour long car ride with nothing to look at but concrete? Hell no!

the article isnt very specific about just where this tunnel will be built but when i pulled out my road atlas the narrowest point is to a spot in alaska that you cant get to by car.

the closest city that has roads is nome, population 3500.

there would have to be a massive project for infrastructure built across the length and breadth of alaska. roads, rails, powerline, etc built through the cold, the permafrost, the mountains. all built from scratch.

it seems financially unfeasable to me.

Ted Stevens (The"Series of Tubes" guy)
has set aside funding to build TWO bridges that combined will be longer than the Golden gate bridge, just to reach a small island town.

Is that unfeasable as well?

Hmm... First of all, who would use it? There's nothing worthwhile in Alaska and even less in Siberia. :p

No-one... Except the Neo Soviets!

Hmm... First of all, who would use it? There's nothing worthwhile in Alaska and even less in Siberia. :p

Hmm... First of all, who would use it? There's nothing worthwhile in Alaska and even less in Siberia. :p

Don't the Russians have oil and minerals buried under Siberia? If so it would be nice to get easy access to it. We could always use more resources, and being able to truck them in would maybe make them cheaper.

Awesomes

Don't the Russians have oil and minerals buried under Siberia? If so it would be nice to get easy access to it. We could always use more resources, and being able to truck them in would maybe make them cheaper.

yes but you would be trucking them to no where. it would take many billions of dollars to build whatever infrastructure is required to get them to a continuous road to the rest of the country.

yes but you would be trucking them to no where. it would take many billions of dollars to build whatever infrastructure is required to get them to a continuous road to the rest of the country.

Fuck it then. At least the caribou can use it to migrate back and forth between Siberia and North America.

Fuck it then. At least the caribou can use it to migrate back and forth between Siberia and North America.

lol

now thats an interesting proposal!

Quick! Get some lobbyists to get Congress to give a nice big serving of pork for this project! Alaska's just hit the jackpot!

They obviously want Alaska back from the Americans.

haha, worst idea ever
the red army is going to come pouring through there like you wouldn't believe!

:mp5: :mp5:

You fools! It's all a plan by the Neo Soviet Empire! Once that tunnel is built, you'll have the whole Russian Tank Corps trundling all the way over to Anchorage, and there'll be no-one to stop them! They want to take back Russian America!

Its legally theirs anyway. Seward bought it on a 100-year lease, unfortunately the Bolsheviks burnt the papers that proved their claim and Washington is not going to let its copy of the contract be discovered.

the article isnt very specific about just where this tunnel will be built but when i pulled out my road atlas the narrowest point is to a spot in alaska that you cant get to by car.

the closest city that has roads is nome, population 3500.

there would have to be a massive project for infrastructure built across the length and breadth of alaska. roads, rails, powerline, etc built through the cold, the permafrost, the mountains. all built from scratch.

it seems financially unfeasable to me.
Perhaps they could siphon some funds from the Operation Iraqi Freedom project?? :p

You guys have got to be kidding me.

Direct access from Siberia and Kamchatka to the markets in the US? MONEY OVERFLOW! Siberia is chock-full of agricultural and mineral wealth, just waiting for someone to have the brains and guts to unlock it. Kamchatka is a volcanic pennninsula, all but unexplored mineralogically, but what we have seen is gemstones, heavy metals and silver. A veritable treasure trove of useful materials.

Tell me where to invest!

I smell Ted Stevens behind this.

Therefore I am against it.

Your instincts serve you well.

haha, worst idea ever
the red army is going to come pouring through there like you wouldn't believe!

:mp5: :mp5:

wow execllent argument. :rolleyes:

i never knew some-one with a postcound over 2k would use gun smileys, a really stupid thing to do.

Well, it'd be easier to smuggle in Russian sex slaves.

Your opinion on this tunnel?

it is not going to be a big tunnel. it's going to be a series of tubes.

So a 64 mile tunnel from the frozen asshole of the world to the frozen asshole of the world?


It's fuckin cold up there, can you imagine trying to tunnel?

And when it's completed, they can call it the Poop Chute.

Does anyone actually live in Siberia?

Aside from the exiles, of course.

it is not going to be a big tunnel. it's going to be a series of tubes.

Don't question EO's interpretation. It ruins the silly fun.

Well, it'd be easier to smuggle in Russian sex slaves.

yup no more long boat trips

You guys have got to be kidding me.

Direct access from Siberia and Kamchatka to the markets in the US? MONEY OVERFLOW! Siberia is chock-full of agricultural and mineral wealth, just waiting for someone to have the brains and guts to unlock it. Kamchatka is a volcanic pennninsula, all but unexplored mineralogically, but what we have seen is gemstones, heavy metals and silver. A veritable treasure trove of useful materials.

Tell me where to invest!

thats a great reason to invest in siberia but not a great reason to invest in a tunnel and massive amounts of infrastructure that have never been built for good reason.

put your money into siberia and build a road/rail down to vladivostok

Well, it'd be easier to smuggle in Russian sex slaves.
So, that would lead to lower prices, no?

I am in favour of this project.

So, that would lead to lower prices, no?

I am in favour of this project.

NOW you're thinking.

Hmm... First of all, who would use it? There's nothing worthwhile in Alaska and even less in Siberia. :p

Don't you read the news!? Global warming will turn Siberia and Alaska into a sun-baked paradise.

You guys have got to be kidding me.

Direct access from Siberia and Kamchatka to the markets in the US? MONEY OVERFLOW! Siberia is chock-full of agricultural and mineral wealth, just waiting for someone to have the brains and guts to unlock it. Kamchatka is a volcanic pennninsula, all but unexplored mineralogically, but what we have seen is gemstones, heavy metals and silver. A veritable treasure trove of useful materials.

Tell me where to invest!

Actually in all seriousness this would be the driving force. There is one other reason then this to build a connection. Rail shipping from China and Korea. Vladivostok would benefit immensely from this type of project. It would be a massive rail hub coming in from China and Korea to N America.

The economic benefit of a rail link between the US and Russia would be significant.

Both Alaska and Siberia are mostly undeveloped economically, and a method to cross the Bering Strait without any kind of risk or interruption, as well as making it possible to ship rail traffic between the two continents without interruption. In fact, this would not just link the US and Russia, but would link the entire world together since most rail lines in Russia connect to the ones in the rest of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Actually in all seriousness this would be the driving force. There is one other reason then this to build a connection. Rail shipping from China and Korea. Vladivostok would benefit immensely from this type of project. It would be a massive rail hub coming in from China and Korea to N America.

If that actually happens it 'splains Warren Buffet's purchase of rail stock earlier this week.

This idea is absurdly stupid. For one, a 64 mile tunnel across the Bering Straits... way easier said than done. The cost to make it would be tremendous. And there are plenty of better uses for that much money.

Second, once built, how long before it needs repairs due to the damage the shift of tectonic plates would cause. The relative inflexibility of a tunnel would be potential disastrous if an earthquake cracked it. Which it would, probably sooner rather than later, being as how, like someone mentioned, the strait lies directly on the "Ring of Fire".

This idea is absurdly stupid. For one, a 64 mile tunnel across the Bering Straits... way easier said than done. The cost to make it would be tremendous. And there are plenty of better uses for that much money.

Second, once built, how long before it needs repairs due to the damage the shift of tectonic plates would cause. The relative inflexibility of a tunnel would be potential disastrous if an earthquake cracked it. Which it would, probably sooner rather than later, being as how, like someone mentioned, the strait lies directly on the "Ring of Fire".

I think that bit of Russia is on the North American Plate.

Of course there is still an earthquake risk from isostatic rebound if there are rapidly retreating glaciers up there, but I don't know to what extent the risk is.

I imagine that there has been a feasibility study done on this though.

Still is a colossal waste of money however.

I think that bit of Russia is on the North American Plate.

Of course there is still an earthquake risk from isostatic rebound if there are rapidly retreating glaciers up there, but I don't know to what extent the risk is.

I imagine that there has been a feasibility study done on this though.

Still is a colossal waste of money however.

I was actually a bit more concerned about the boundary with the Pacific Plate.

Just checked, and while not too close, the Pacific Plate and North American Plate are colliding just below the Aleutians. From the picture on Wikipedia I'm liking at, it does appear that one is subducting, not sure which though.

I have a much better idea.
Flying trains. *nod*

:mp5: :mp5: :mp5: wow execllent argument. :rolleyes:

i never knew some-one with a postcound over 2k would use gun smileys, a really stupid thing to do.

:sniper: :sniper: :sniper:


And what is wrong with the gun smileys exactly?

I think that bit of Russia is on the North American Plate.

Of course there is still an earthquake risk from isostatic rebound if there are rapidly retreating glaciers up there, but I don't know to what extent the risk is.

I imagine that there has been a feasibility study done on this though.

Still is a colossal waste of money however.

Ah, but if you're the one getting paid kickbacks from the companies given the contract to build it...

Very interesting. Can't wait to see the responses coming out of Russia on this one. Hopefully it will foster a renewed sense of Freedom for the Russian people.

Are you high or something?

Where do you get this "renewed sense of Freedom for the Russian people" from?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=home&sid=a0bsMii8oKXw

64 mile tunnel...

This would be awesome. I can see it being good for Siberia and Alaska for economic reasons.

It would also be fun to travel in the tunnel, just to say you had done it.

Your opinion on this tunnel?

Very interesting. Can't wait to see the responses coming out of Russia on this one. Hopefully it will foster a renewed sense of Freedom for the Russian people.

I say if the benefits outweigh the costs then do it.

That's a dumb idea. Why would you bother?

That's a dumb idea. Why would you bother?

well, if it worked, and if the russian far east has infrastructure, and alaska had infrastructure, and the weather cooperated up there, and again, it worked, it would probably be economically beneficial by allowing goods to be easily shipped between the two super-continents. too bad for you though, australia boy.

:mp5: :mp5: :mp5:

:sniper: :sniper: :sniper:


And what is wrong with the gun smileys exactly?

The fact that they practically scream "Hey! Look at me! I am a retarded noob!"

There's been a lot of talk about the near fault line being a problem, but according to wikipedia the nearest fault line is 850 miles away, so... that doesn't strike me as being an issue.
Fault lines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plates_tect2_en.svg)

I say if the benefits outweigh the costs then do it.

I think it would pay for itself many times over. Once built it will be there for a very long time. The long range payoff is immense. Also a side note about nations that do large trade volumes with each other. They tend not to fight each other.

There's been a lot of talk about the near fault line being a problem, but according to wikipedia the nearest fault line is 850 miles away, so... that doesn't strike me as being an issue.
Fault lines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plates_tect2_en.svg)

I think it still might be, since the Pacific Plate is subducting underneath the North American plate there.

I think it still might be, since the Pacific Plate is subducting underneath the North American plate there.
Okay, I'm not a seismologist so I'll assume you know more about it than I do.

i doubt it would be actually done. surely the initial cost of such an endeavour would severely prohibitive to actually starting something like this. especially fora country as srewed up as russia.

The economic benefit of a rail link between the US and Russia would be significant.

Both Alaska and Siberia are mostly undeveloped economically, and a method to cross the Bering Strait without any kind of risk or interruption, as well as making it possible to ship rail traffic between the two continents without interruption. In fact, this would not just link the US and Russia, but would link the entire world together since most rail lines in Russia connect to the ones in the rest of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

I notice you conveniently left out the fact that the nearest rail link to Nome is the Alaska Railroad. In Fairbanks. 525 miles. From there, the Alaska railroad goes to Anchorage. You have to get to Prince Rupert, BC before you start hitting railway links to the south. We are talking over 2000 miles of railroads that would have to be built just in North America to have this make a lick of sense. Probably more like four to five thousand miles in Russia (Vladivostok is 2800 miles as the crow flies over the Pacific) Quite frankly, building a sound tunnel through 100km of silt and muck under the Bering Strait sounds like a freaking breeze compared with the ten thousand kilometers of railroad track on permafrost. Then we'd have to upgrade the tracks on all those northern railroads to handle, say, two way traffic. That's right, folks. The Alaska Railroad is a single track, with an occasional passing lane. You sometimes have to sit around on a two track stretch waiting for the train you know is coming to get there so the two of you can pass. This is fine for the traffic needed to sustain Fairbanks and the interior, but would be completely unacceptable for even modest intercontinental rail traffic.