What is a Mega Project ?
Megaprojects are large-scale, complex ventures that typically cost a billion dollars or more, take many years to develop and build, involve multiple public and private stakeholders, are transformational, and impact millions of people.
The normal guideline for a project to be considered “mega” is a budget in excess of $1 billion.
The term “megaproject” caught on just as the largest projects technically were megaprojects no more, but, to be accurate, “gigaprojects” — “giga” being the unit of measurement meaning a billion. However, the term “gigaproject” never really caught on. A Google search reveals that the word “megaproject” is used 27 times more frequently on the web than the term “gigaproject”.
When we think of mega-projects, we think of infrastructure developments. The channel tunnel between England and France, the Three Gorges Dam (and numerous other, lesser known but still as large) hydroelectric projects in China, the Confederation Bridge in Canada and the construction of the Denver International Airport in the United States all meet the definition of a mega-project.
Some of the World's Most Impressive Megaprojects
O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REDEVELOPMENT, UNITED STATES
As the demand for air travel continues to grow, and with the United States (US) preparing to host both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, airports across the country - from LaGuardia to LAX - are undergoing multi-billion-dollar overhauls.
The USD $8.5BN upgrade to Chicago’s O’Hare International will mark the first comprehensive redevelopment and expansion of the terminal core in the airport’s history.
ITER, FRANCE
A joint project between 35 nations, the ITER (formerly known as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), is currently under construction in France.
Once completed the USD $20BN centre will allow scientists to recreate the fusion reactions that take place inside the Sun, potentially revolutionising energy production.
GRAND RENAISSANCE DAM, ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam sits alongside Nigeria’s Eko Atlantic and Egypt’s USD $58BN new capital as one of Africa’s most impressive megaprojects.
With work first starting back in 2011, the dam will become the continent’s largest hydroelectric plant, generating some 6.45 gigawatts of power, when it completes in 2022.
Standing 155 metres tall and extending almost 1,800 metres across the Blue Nile, the main structure is being formed with over 10 million tonnes of concrete, holding back 74 cubic kilometres of water when the reservoir is full.
ONE BARANGAROO, AUSTRALIA
Rising 271 meters above Sydney’s emerging Barangaroo district, the 75-storey One Barangaroo (also known as Crown Sydney) will become the city's tallest building.
Designed by WilkinsonEyre, the tower’s sculptural form is based around three twisting petals and will contain a casino, Australia’s first six-star hotel and 82 luxury apartments overlooking the famous harbour.
CHUO SHINKANSEN, JAPAN
Since its first bullet-train shot onto the world stage in 1964, Japan has pioneered the development of high-speed rail.
While competition from Europe and China has seen the title of "world’s fastest train" move west in recent years, the new Chuo Shinkansen - with its maglev carriages able to reach speeds of over 500 kilometres per hour - will see Japan reclaim the title.
Despite Tokyo and Nagoya sitting 284 kilometres apart, the new line will bring the two cities within 40 minutes of each other.
THE LINE, SAUDI ARABIA
The Line is an ambitious endeavour announced in 2021 that aims to realize a futuristic vision for urban development in the Middle East. As one of the biggest projects in the world, this mega construction entity will feature two skyscrapers running parallel to each other and encased in a straight line. The structure will span over 170 kilometres amidst a desert and mountainous terrain. The space between the two buildings is proposed to be used as a massive outdoor space.
DHOLERA SOLAR POWER PLANT, INDIA
The Dholera Solar Power Plant, located in Gujarat, India, is one of the largest solar power plants in the world. It covers an area of 11 square kilometers and has a capacity of 700 MW. The plant was built by Adani Green Energy and uses a mix of both fixed and tracking solar panels to capture the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day. The panels are arranged in rows and connected to a central inverter system, which converts the direct current (DC) generated by the panels into alternating current (AC) that can be fed into the grid.
THE MILLAU VIADUCT, FRANCE
Millau Viaduct is one of the extraordinarily contemporary engineering infrastructure construction projects. Located in southern France, it stands as the world's tallest cable-stayed bridge. Spanning 2,460 meters in length and 343 meters in height, the bridge crosses the Tarn River Valley, connecting the cities of Clermont-Ferrand and Beziers. The mega construction of the bridge was a combined effort by French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect and designer Norman Foster, the outcome of which is a seamless integration of architecture and the natural landscape that surrounds the site.
THE PALM JUMEIRAH, UAE
Palm Jumeirah, a mega-infrastructural design and construction project, is one of the three Palm Islands which were designed to be the largest artificial islands in the world. With the idea to offer a lavish living experience for both the residents and visitors, Palm Jumeirah island is renowned for its remarkable architectural features and innovative engineering achievements.
Starting with its unique shape, the design of the man-made island was planned not only keeping the aesthetics in mind but also serving the practical purpose of maximizing the available coastline. Also, the intricate network of roads and tunnels that connect the island to the mainland have their significance in promoting the growth and development of the city.
