Construction is a reflection of the economy and right now, we are witnessing some of the biggest construction projects in U.S., which means the country is prospering for the most part.
The U.S. has always been one of the most advanced countries in the world, in various aspects, including construction projects. Not only does the country take pride in having the biggest construction projects in the world, but it is also known to be among the nations with the first dibs on the latest construction technology and processes. Construction is a huge industry in our country and will continue to play a large role in the economy as long as the population increases and businesses prosper. Looking at what is happening to infrastructure in major U.S. cities is another sign of economic success. Some of this mega projects under construction will surprise you while leaving you in awe about what mankind can create. Right now, Hudson Yards is being elevated about the NYC skyline as the largest (and priciest) private development project in the nation’s history, which you can learn more about with our list of 10 Biggest Construction Projects in New York City. However, in just a bit, we’ll talk more about one of the largest construction projects in the U.S. for 2017, which is in California.
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That being said, U.S. construction projects are expected to be of premium quality over many others. It is also why other countries tend to take their cues from American construction projects and use them to set their own standards. It is easy to guess that the best and the biggest construction projects in the U.S. are in its megacities like New York. Some of the entries on our list are future mega projects, where plans are in place to vastly improve our day-to-day lives all over the country. No matter where you go, it seems every country is trying to outdo the others, which is evident in this article on the Biggest Construction Projects in the World. From Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower to Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, these are mega projects based on their sheer size and cost.
There are various factors to use when searching for the biggest construction projects. One is the budget, which is usually disclosed in articles featuring what are believed to be the most-anticipated and costly projects. Apart from the budget, we can also try to search for each project’s land area to see how big it really is. Having said that, researching for this article means we have to check the web for sources on the scope and budget for the U.S. infrastructure projects 2017. In this case, we sourced our data from Fortune, Construct Connect, and Zippia. In the end, we decided to rank these projects by their estimated construction costs, so the most expensive projects will be found at the top of our list.
Continue reading to learn more about the biggest construction projects in U.S.
10. SR 520 Floating Bridge (Washington)
Estimated Cost: $4.5 billion
The SR 520 Floating Bridge located in Seattle is undoubtedly one of America’s biggest and most popular construction projects. It is known as the world’s longest bridge and is also famous for its strong capacity of carrying heavy cars and even trains. Not only did it make headlines because of how much it costs, but it is also known for its beauty.
9. Pacific Park (Brooklyn, NY)
Estimated Cost: $6 billion
We are continuing our list of biggest construction projects in U.S. with Pacific Park, one of America’s most important billion-dollar construction projects. It was first named as Atlantic Yards and is said to open this year. With an eight acre park and a long string of boutiques and other commercial businesses, it sure is a sight to see. Add to that the towering apartment building, and you know it was worth its budget.
8. The Second Avenue Subway Renovation (New York City)
Estimated Cost: $6 billion
The long overdue repair and renovation of the Second Avenue Subway has finally been planned. It took a total of 50 long years before it happened as digging new Subway tunnels is no easy task in a populated mega city like NYC. The second phase is still said to be started by 2019. It might have taken a lot of time and money before construction began, but the end result is should be one for the books.
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7. Dulles Transit Extension (Texas)
Estimated Cost: $6.2 billion
Number 7 on our list of biggest construction projects in U.S. started back in 2008, and was scheduled to open in 2013. A chunk of the total cost was said to be shouldered by the federal government, while the rest is said to have been paid by the state. With 11 new stations and 23 miles of new track, there’s no doubt this transit extension is one of America’s biggest construction projects. It could also be a sign of things to come as the country looks to follow suite of Europe’s high-speed rail system.
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6. Chicago O’Hare Airport Modernization (Illinois)
Estimated Cost: $8.8 billion
This airport is known to serve around 65 million passengers every year, so it is fitting for them to improve and modernize the structure. The cost is said to be shouldered by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, and is known to be one of America’s biggest construction projects ever.
5. Texas Central Railway (Texas)
Estimated Cost: $10 billion
Like the previous Dulles one, the much-awaited Texas Central Railway is still in the planning stage. It isn’t only popular for the budget it has, but is also ideal for its potential improvements on getting around Texas. It has also been the subject of a few controversies, which has only made it more popular in a sense. The project, which spans 240 miles, is sure to be a great help to everyone in Texas, which is why it makes our list of biggest construction projects in U.S.
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4. The Hudson Tunnel Project (New York and New Jersey)
Estimated Cost: $13 billion
This project has been making a buzz for quite a long time now, even though its expected opening would be by 2045. The very long planning phase justifies how grand this project really is. With an objective to improve how people commute in the biggest cities in America, this project isn’t just noteworthy for being expensive, but is also lauded for its objective to improve lives.
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3. Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project (New York City)
Estimated Cost: $20 billion
This construction project among the other on our list of biggest construction projects in U.S., is the largest private real estate development in the history of America. It’s no wonder, since the land area known for Hudson Yards span a whopping 28 acres, in Manhattan at that. Hudson Yards is expected to add more residential, commercial and office space to Manhattan once completed. The budget for the project makes it so deserving to be among the construction projects we have on the list, and on any other construction list for that matter.
2. Bay Delta Conservation Plan (California)
Estimated Cost: $25 billion
In an effort to sustain the environment and make better irrigation systems for Northern California and Southern California, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan was born. With such a massive budget and a great objective that would surely benefit a lot of people, there is no doubt this project is one of America’s best and biggest.
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1. California High-Speed Rail (California)
Estimated Cost: $68 billion
As we said before, high-speed rail is nothing new, but definitely necessary in the United States. This high-speed rail is expected to be done by 2030–by that, you can already confirm how big of a construction project it is. Its construction did start in 2015, so they are slowly, but surely on their way to completion. This project is known to have 24 stations and will have high-speed trains to help with the commute and make transportation faster and more efficient.
America might not be the leading country when it comes to construction projects, but the biggest construction projects in U.S. still deserve to be applauded.
