Two Really Big Bridges That Aren't Built Yet

"Dubai Wows Again with Biggest Arch Bridge Ever"
InventorSpot (February 11, 2008)

"They've got amazing hotels, artificial islands, even an indoor ski mountain. And now, to add to the list, Dubai will become home to largest arch bridge in world when the constructions of this monster is finished in 2012. Seriously, what can't they do over there?..."


(From Fxfowle, via InvetorSpot, used without permission)

The author seems to be hyperventilating a bit: but this Dubai project is pretty impressive.

"Dubai to build world's longest arch bridge"
ArabianBusiness.com (January 29, 2008)

"Dubai plans to build the world's longest arch bridge at a cost of 3 billion dirhams ($816.9 million), the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Tuesday.

"The RTA said it would take four years to construct the mega-bridge, which will measure 1,600 metres with an arch 205 metres high and 667 metres long.

"Once complete the bridge will overtake the Lupu Bridge in Shanghai as the longest in the world...."

This news article is quite a bit longer, and much more detailed, than the InventorSpot post.

---

But Wait! There's More!

"A bridge too far?"
ArabianBusiness.com ((August 3, 2008)

"Already labelled the 'Bridge of the Century' by its supporters, developers plan to make engineering history by building a $25bn causeway between Africa and the Arabian peninsula. But is a project of such unprecedented scale viable?

"It's nothing if not ambitious. According to its backers, the $25bn 'Bridge of the Century' will be the world's longest suspension bridge, crossing the Red Sea at an 29-km wide strait known as the Bab al-Mandep, or 'Gate of Tears', and connecting the southern tip of Yemen with the Horn of Africa in Djibouti.

"The entire scheme, which also entails the creation of special economic cities at each end of the crossing, will demand a total investment of over $200bn in the two impoverished nations...."

I don't know what to think of this uber-mega-super-scale project. I don't doubt that eventually people will be building structures on this scale, but this Africa-Arabia bridge seems to be a bit of a big jump from existing megastructures, like the Lupu bridge and Dubai's artificial islands.

ArabianBusiness.com does a pretty good job of discussing what's happening, and speculating on how probable, or improbable, success of the transcontinental bridge and city-building project is.

Carbon-Neutral, Zero-Emissions City: Unrealistic? Maybe Not

Take a good look. This could be the future.


(from FOXNews, used w/o permission)

"Desert Oasis: Oil Sheiks Plan 'Green' City, Look to Alternative Energy"
FOXNews (July 8, 2008)

"ABU DHABI, UAE — The United Arab Emirates won't run out of oil for about a century, but it's already committing billions to help wean the world off the very product that made it rich.

"The UAE, which pumps millions of barrels of oil every day, wants to become an alternative energy hub. It has made an initial investment of $15 billion for its Masdar Initiative, which it hopes will establish it as a leader in the field of green energy.

" 'We have a long history of being suppliers of sources of energy,' said Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. 'We want to maintain that and always be enablers and a catalyst for providing the world with clean solutions of power.' "

I'm not always a huge fan of the UAE ("Filtering, Censorship, and Dealing With It" (September 14, 2007), "The Internet: USA Rules, UAE Rules " (August 14, 2007)), but it looks like they've got a very good idea here.

The biggest project on tap is "Masdar City, an eco-oasis in the desert that will be entirely carbon neutral, creating no emissions and no waste." That, and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, could make quite a difference, a few decades down the road.


(from FOXNews (July 8, 2008))

video 2:14

Chester Beatty Library: Art Museum and Library

"Welcome to the Chester Beatty Library Website"

"... the Chester Beatty Library is an art museum and library which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). The Library's exhibitions open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. Its rich collection from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe offers visitors a visual feast. Chester Beatty Library was named Irish Museum of the year in 2000 and was awarded the title European Museum of the Year in 2002."