DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Drive from Europe to the U.S.? Russia proposes world's greatest superhighway By Chuck Thompson, CNN Updated 2:23 AM ET, Wed March 25, 2015 Route as roughly interpreted by CNN. The proposed plan for a massive trans-Siberian highway would link Russia's eastern border with the U.S. state of Alaska. (CNN)London to New York City by car? It could happen if the head of Russian Railways has his way. According to a March 23 report in The Siberian Times, Russian Railways president Vladimir Yakunin has proposed a plan for a massive trans-Siberian highway that would link his country's eastern border with the U.S. state of Alaska, crossing a narrow stretch of the Bering Sea that separates Asia and North America. The scheme was unveiled at a meeting of the Moscow-based Russian Academy of Science. Dubbed the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development (TEPR), the project calls for a major roadway to be constructed alongside the existing Trans-Siberian Railway, along with a new train network and oil and gas pipelines. "This is an inter-state, inter-civilization, project," the Siberian Times quoted Yakunin. "The project should be turned into a world 'future zone,' and it must be based on leading, not catching, technologies." "Are we there yet?" The road would run across the entirety of Russia, linking with existing road systems in Western Europe and Asia. The distance between Russia's western and eastern borders is roughly 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles). Yakunin said the road would connect Russia with North America via Russia's far eastern Chukotka region, across the Bering Strait and into Alaska's Seward Peninsula. The road would likely enter Alaska some distance north of the town of Nome, where the famed Iditarod sled dog race ends. How would drivers span the ocean gap between Siberia and Alaska? Ferry? Tunnel? Bridges? The report didn't offer specifics on the route across the sea. The shortest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 88 kilometers (55 miles), according to the Alaska Public Lands Information Centers. The main route of the Trans-Siberian railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok and covers 9,258 kilometers. A theoretical drive (as fancifully calculated by CNN) from London to Alaska via Moscow might cover about 12,978 kilometers (8,064 miles). Relatively isolated even by Alaska standards, no road connects Nome with the rest of the state's road system. About 836 road-less kilometers (520 miles) across desolate terrain separates Nome from the closest major city and road network in Fairbanks, the unofficial northern terminus of the Alaska Highway. From Fairbanks, Canada and the 48 contiguous U.S. states can be reached by road. Assuming a road to Nome were ever built (the idea has been studied by the state of Alaska), a fantasy road trip from London to New York might cover a grueling but presumably photo-op-laden 20,777 kilometers (12,910 miles). Facebook posts from forlorn Siberian rest stops might alone make the trip worthwhile, though the journey would also easily establish irritating new records for "Are we there yet?" gripes from the kids. Who's gonna pay for this thing? Yakunin has been described as a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some sources have speculated that he could be Putin's likely successor as president. TEPR would reportedly cost "trillions of dollars." According to Yakunin, however, massive economic returns would more than make up for the massive cash outlay -- about which the report also included no details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Would be interesting if I could drive from Vancouver to Moscow to catch the KHL game, then comeback the next day to Vancouver to watch the Canucks game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 A high-speed train might be a better idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMohammadman Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 YES. This needs to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Sounds like a bad idea. Trillions of dollars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackberries Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Would be interesting if I could drive from Vancouver to Moscow to catch the KHL game, then comeback the next day to Vancouver to watch the Canucks game. you wouldnt be able to drive from vancouver to moscow and back in a day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Sounds like a bad idea. Trillions of dollars? Maybe it could be beneficial when it comes to trades. Probably save money exporting goods to Russia (which would be another big trading partner aside from US). Also we would be connected to Asia too, which would mean the Chinese population in Vancouver might explode lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 you wouldnt be able to drive from vancouver to moscow and back in a day Not in a day, but I wouldn't need to go to Moscow either to catch a KHL game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 So when you cross from Alaska to Russia, when do you have to start driving on the other side of the road? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 A high-speed train might be a better idea. I agree, a bullet train like Maglev that could reach speeds of 500 kph. It would cover 10,000 km in 20 hours but the cost of building it would be in trillions or probably even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefCon1 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 So when you cross from Alaska to Russia, when do you have to start driving on the other side of the road? It wouldn't matter since lots of drunk Russian drivers drive on the wrong side anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inane Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 So when you cross from Alaska to Russia, when do you have to start driving on the other side of the road? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electro Rock Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 A road where you might presumably encounter Russian, Asian and New York drivers at the same time, what could go wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwags Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Thing is, where or who is Russia going to get trillions of dollars from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drive-By Body Pierce Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Next step, Russia invades Alaska! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 A road? What's wrong with trade by ship? Cool idea, but a colossal waste of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webster6 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Next step, Russia invades Alaska! This is what I was thinking at first too lmao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwags Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I've heard of a similar concept to this, except it involves a trans-Atlantic subway system, and supposedly would make it possible to travel from New York to London in 30 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronalds.Kenins41 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 The proposed area the bridge is in is one of the worst spots weather wise (all you need to do is watch deadliest catch) . Building a 88 km bridge is a disaster waiting to happen. I think a tunnel is more realistic. And if that's the case this project could take decades. But imagine if happens though. Would be pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 you wouldnt be able to drive from vancouver to moscow and back in a day In a Veyron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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