Engineering is a very interesting field. The great minds in this field and especially in the civil construction have created so many extraordinary things that at some point were deemed impossible. All these inventions have made our lives easier and much better. Below are the most remarkable engineering projects that have made great impacts to the society today.
1. Pyramids of Giza in Egypt:
The pyramids of Giza are located on the outskirts of Cairo and are the last standing of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World. They consist of Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. These pyramids were built many years ago and up to date archaeologists are still fascinated by their construction.
2. The Hoover Dam:
This is one of the most impressive structures in the world today. During the creation of this dam, contractors had to divert the flow of Colorado River through some tunnels that were dug inside the canyon walls. These tunnels had a diameter of 56 feet and a length of about 16,000 feet. After diverting the river, the engineers then constructed a tall and strong structure; they made sure the structure was strong enough to sustain the future generation and also keep the river under control. By the time of completion in 1935, this was the world’s biggest concrete structure and the largest electric producing facility.
3. Boston Big Dig:
This is up to date recognized as the biggest, most complex and above the most technologically challenging highway work in history of United States. This project was able to reduce traffic congestion of one the most congested cities in America. This project, which replaced the Boston’s deteriorating 6-lane elevated Central -Artery with an underground highway, 2 bridges over Charles River, extended to the Boston’s Logan International -Airport, and also Route 1A created about 300 acres of an open land. It also reconnected the downtown Boston to waterfront.
4. The Great Wall of China:
This is the longest man-made structure in the entire world at around 4,160 miles long. This wall was constructed between 5th Century BC and 16th Century BC. The most amazing thing about this project is that it was accomplished without using any modern machinery in very rough terrain.
5. Transcontinental Road:
By the mid of 19th century, the great benefits of industrialization were gradually starting to get to America. These advances and the desire to connect the East and West fueled the spectacular civil construction projects that changed the continent forever. The construction of the Railroad was tough but the engineers finally made it.
6. The Channel Tunnel:
This is clearly the longest tunnel that has an undersea part in the whole world. It has a length of 32.4 miles and forms a link between Folkestone in England to Conquelles in France. The tunnel consists of 3 separate tunnels connected together by cross-passage links. Its construction began in 1988 and the tunnel was opened in 1994. It has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
7. Burj Dubai:
This structure achieved instant engineering marvel status before it was even opened. This building was initially projected to achieve the world’s tallest building status. However, the height proposed has never been attempted and therefore this necessitated that the building be designed in such a way that it can withstand the tough windy terrain and the projected human demands on the building. The 160 plus story tower is 818 meters tall and has the longest travel distance between the lowest and highest stop in the world.
8. Millau Viaduct:
This is the tallest vehicular cable-stayed road-bridge that spans valley of river Tarn near Millau, southern France. This civil construction project has a height of 1,125 feet and is 62 feet taller than Eiffel Tower.
9. Panama Canal:
Panama Canal created a short cut between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Before its construction, ships traveling from New York to Francisco had to sail around Cape Horn, a 67-day, 12,000-mile journey. This distance was reduced by 4,000 miles after the opening of Panama Canal. This canal was a civil construction project that created great impacts in shipping between the two oceans.
10. Moon Landing:
The landing of Neil Armstrong on the Moon was a great leap for mankind. This has totally changed how we approach challenges today. The Apollo mission placed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin onto the moon’s surface; this successfully defeated Russia in the rush to the skies. This made United States the greatest superpower.
