Public Works Project Idea: Bridge across the Aleutian Islands to Vladivostok?

[Taverner]

Whaddya think?

[htuttle]

1. Sun Myung Moon already wants to build one

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002527631_revmoon29m.html

[Taverner]

3. Lets beat him to it then

[KansDem]

2. It would make it easier to see Russia...

That would be a big help for any future presidential candidate from Alaska...

[backscatter712]

4. Discovery did have a show on a hypothetical Bering Strait Bridge.

Connecting Alaska with Siberia, and building a highway system that will enable goods to be transported by truck or train from North America to Asia would certainly help trade.

But this is not an insignificant project - the bridge would be enormous - miles long, and would have to be pretty high off the sea for ship traffic.

On top of that, we're talking about the Bering Strait - the bridge (and the construction crews and equipment) would have to withstand all the storms, ice, ocean currents, etc., as well as the occasional iceberg or ship collision. Pretty expensive...

[Taverner]

9. And the kind of thing that would pay off down the road

Trade --- tarriffs ---- $$$

[KamaAina]

13. Not to mention thousands of kilometers of highway on the Russian side

just to reach the nearest outpost of civilization.

On Sarah's side, a thousand miles or so ought to do it.

[Taverner]

16. Oh have no fear - a Russian version of Tijuana will develop

A major trading post, where goods are loaded off trucks and onto trains...

Money will exchange hands

All will be good

[KamaAina]

18. But with vodka in place of tequila, I presume

thing is, Tijuanski is very, very far from any existing highway or rail line. Even Vladivostok is all the way down the Pacific coast near North Korea.

[Taverner]

19. But that would change - and that is exactly what Russia wants

They have been looking to settle in that area for years. They tried forced prisons in the Stalin years - - didn't work.

But the lure of money and trade is enough to make one consider - especially when they can afford heat because of the economic environment.

[I814U]

5. Poor Russians

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I believe Wally Hickel wants a tunnel across the Bering Strait

to Russia. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&sid=a0bsMii8oKXw It sounds like the Russians are fairly serious about this prospect.

[leftstreet]

17. That's an interesting article

Thanks for posting the link!

[Blue_In_AK]

23. I think it's kind of a cool idea, myself,

although obviously very expensive and quite an engineering challenge. I'm sure there are environmental issues that would have to be dealt with, as well.

[Taverner]

25. And I say we address EVERYTHING

My suggestion - work with nature, not against it

What I mean - build a tunnel - but one that can somehow be supported by an ice casing. Basically have a glacier of ice form around this tunnel, giving it extra protection against the weather.

[damntexdem]

7. Bridge to somewhere?

But would Putin use it to stick his head into Palin's Alaska air space? ;-)

[dkofos]

8. Why not an elevator to the MOON.

It's just as stupid.

[Taverner]

12. Think about that for a second

Who lives on the moon? No one

Who lives in Russia? Only one of the greatest economic sucess stories of the last few years.

Maybe they want Levis?

[conscious evolution]

22. Space elevators are not as farfetched as you think.

From what this sci-fi geek has read the only technical diffuculty lies in finding the right materials for the cables.Other than that it would is a lot simpler then you would think.Not easy,but relatively simple,from an engineering perspective.
There has even been a space shuttle mission already where they dragged a several hundred mile long cable through the atmosphere for the purpose of testing the feasibility of such a project.Unfortunately,they discovered that todays existing cable technology would not work.The heat build up from friction caused by the atmosphere melts them.However,when metalurgic knowledge advances to the point where they can make high strength cables that are resistant to sustained high tempatures building a space elevator becomes a real possibility.
At that point the main challenges will be more in the nature of financial and political issues instead of it being an engineering impossibility.Imagine the flamewars.Yikes.

Frankly,I would not mind seeing both projects given serious consideration.Building bridges,whether from continent to continent or from earth to space or even a foot bridge across a creek,usually pays off in the long term.

[Posteritatis]

27. Space elevators also don't reach the moon. ;) (nt)

[conscious evolution]

31. Well.thats true

An S.E would not have to go to the moon itself,though.It could be done but it would be an engineering nightmare of cosmic porportions.
S.E.'s just need to get to around the same orbit as weather or TV satellites.Once out of earths gravity well existing rocket tech,in terms of fuel use, becomes efficient enough to use for longer trips.

[ecstatic]

30. that would be really cool! nt

[roguevalley]

10. a bridge from nowhere to nowhere. also, environmental damage

and seasonal disruptions by weather would be awful.

[Taverner]

11. Pshwaw - that environmental damage can be worked around

Seriously

And the disruptions would cause a problem - but perhaps not....

What if it were an enclosed bridge?

[conscious evolution]

14. A tunnel would probably be better

Either way,such a feat would be an engineering marvel.

[Taverner]

15. And that's what I want the US to get in the buisness of doing again

Engineering Marvels

Granted, it serves the geek in me

[Taverner]

20. I just had an idea...

What about an underwater tunnel with ice acting as rock around it

Basically build the tunnel, then reinforce it with ice...enough so that it glacierizes and protects it

[WHAT]

29. I really like your idea...

I've been trying to remember something that I might not have known. It's a remnant from a sci fi book or a discussion with my son when he was in grade school...the idea that ice can be stronger than steel and there are some 120 distinct structures for ice with the configuration having the ability to impart miraculous properties. This was so long ago and it got stuck in my brain somehow but if some of it was true ...think of the possibilities of engineering with ice! renewable resource, threat of global warming, superman's castle in Siberia (too)

Then, too, there are the benefits of pacific rim trade, by passing the middle east or selling them ice (?) Trade routes radiating from the poles would reconfigure politics because of economic nudging and the forced intermingling of cultures would give rise to some really interesting combinations...

Needless to say, I love your idea and I wish there were some engineers around to talk about it. Thanks for an interesting post!

[backscatter712]

24. Probably true.

The weather is so bad in the Bering Strait, especially in the winter, that a tunnel probably would be the best bet. Something like the Chunnel, though it'd have to be longer, and we'd be talking about freight trains that take the tunnel, rather than passenger traffic (I don't see a huge number of tourists using the Bering Strait Bridge or Bering Strait Tunnel.

Once you get started and are significantly underground, you've pretty much neutralized the weather issues - you just have to deal with the expense and pretty much known technical difficulties of boring a tunnel with a tunnel-boring-machine (TBM). It'll be slow and expensive, but doable with present technology.

[roguevalley]

26. people would probably take up residence! LOL!

[zagging]

21. I'd rather get some chunks of moon cheese for a sammich

I hope it's not processed cheese food.

[Posteritatis]

28. I want to see the Cleveland/Auckland tunnel, myself

Also, Vladivostok is kinda on the North Korean border with Japan in the way. A bridge there would be a bit much. ;)